EXCHANGE 


PROCEEDINGS 

AND  PAPERS  READ  BEFORE  THE 

LEHIGH   COUNTY 

HISTORICAL 

SOCIETY 


VOL.  I 


ALLBNTOWN,  PBNNA. 
1908 


PROCEEDINGS 

AND  PAPERS  READ  BEFORE  THE 

LEHIGH    COUNTY 

HISTORICAL 

SOCIETY 


VOL.  I 


ALLENTOWN,  PENNA. 
1908 


'5\  \ 


,C-/<c:/.^/vre^ 


•  •>•  •  *•! *•  •    !  t  .; . 


PROCEEDINGS 

OF  THE  LEHIGH  COUNTY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 


In  the  early  part  of  January,  1904,  letters  were  sent  to  a 
number  of  residents  of  Lehigh  county  by  Charles  R.  Roberts, 
asking  their  cooperation  in  forming  an  historical  society.  On 
the  afternoon  of  January  9,  1904,  a  meeting  was  held  in  Com- 
mon Council  Chamber,  Allentown,  Pa.,  at  which  the  Lehigh 
County  Historical  Society  was  organized.  The  officers  elected 
were:  Prof.  George  T.  Ettinger,  President;  Mr.  Philip  W.  Flores, 
Vice-President;  Mr.  Charles  R.  Roberts,  Secretary;  Mr.  Leo  Wise, 
Treasurer. 

A  committee  of  three,  consisting  of  Messrs.  Roberts,  Ochsen- 
ford  and  Wise,  was  appointed  by  the  president  to  draw  up  a 
constitution  and  report  at  the  next  meeting,  to  be  held  at  the 
call  of  the  president. 

The  next  meeting  was  held  on  June  15,  1904,  at  the  office 
of  Leo  Wise,  Esq.  The  Committee  on  Constitution  reported 
having  drawn  up  a  constitution,  which  was  read  and  adopted, 
with  a  few  changes.  The  by-laws  were  then  read  and  adopted. 
On  motion  the  officers  were  empowered  to  act  as  an  Executive 
Committee  until  further  action  be  taken.  A  resolution  was 
adopted  that  the  dues  for  the  first  year  be  one  dollar.  The  meet- 
ing then  adjourned. 


CONSTITUTION. 

ARTICLE  I. 

NAME. 

This  association  shall  be  called  the  Lehigh  County  Histori- 
cal Society  of  Pennsylvania. 

ARTICLE  II. 

OBJECT. 

The  object  of  this  society  is  the  promotion  and  encourage- 
ment of  historical  study  and  research  and  particularly  the  dis- 
covery, collection,  preservation  and  publication  of  the  history, 
historical  records  and  data  of  and  relative  to  Lehigh  county, 
the  marking  of  such  places  of  historical  interest  as  may  be  located 


375484 


in  the  county,  the  collection  and  preservation  of  books,  news- 
papers, pamphlets,  maps,  genealogies,  portraits,  paintings,  relics, 
engravings,  manuscripts,  letters,  journals,  and  any  and  all  mater- 
ials which  may  establish  or  illustrate  such  history;  the  collection 
of  data  relative  to  the  growth  and  progress  of  population,  wealth, 
education,  agriculture,  arts,  manufactures  and  commerce  in  this 
county  and  in  addition  thereto,  the  compilation  of  the  tradi- 
tions and  folklore  of  the  county,  and  the  acquisition  by  donation, 
bequest,  purchase  or  loan,  of  tools,  appliances  and  objects  of 
antiquarian  interest,  and  all  such  other  purposes  as  may  further 
the  objects  above  enumerated. 

ARTICLE  III. 

MEMBERSHIP. 

Section  i. — The  society  shall  consist  of  active,  correspond- 
ing and  life  members. 

Sec.  2.  Of  active  members. — Any  reputable  person  to  whom 
there  attaches  fitness  by  reason  of  birth,  descent,  historical  or 
antiquarian  predeliction,  or  extended  residence  in  Lehigh  county, 
may  become  an  active  member  of  this  society,  upon  nomination 
at  any  annual  or  regular  meeting  of  the  society  by  a  majority 
vote  of  those  present.  Each  active  member,  hereafter  elected, 
shall  pay  to  the  secretary  of  the  society  a  membership  fee  of 
Two  ($2)  Dollars  and  an  annual  due  of  one  ($1)  dollar,  and 
shall  be  entitled  to  receive  free  of  charge  one  copy  of  the  pub- 
lication of  the  society,  hereafter  issued.  They  shall  pay  said 
membership  fee  and  the  annual  due  for  the  first  year,  within 
three  months  of  their  election,  sign  this  constitution,  and  upon 
introduction  into  the  society  shall  be  presented  to  the  presid- 
ing officer.  The  annual  due  shall  become  due  and  payable  on 
the  first  of  January  of  each  year.  Arrearages  for  three  years 
will  cause  the  delinquent  members  to  be  dropped  from  the  rolls. 

Sec.  3.  Of  correspondent  members. — Any  reputable  per- 
son with  qualifications  similar  to  those  required  of  active  mem- 
bers, living  in  any  part  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  or  any 
other  state,  may  be  elected  a  corresponding  or  honorary  mem- 
ber of  this  society,  provided  such  person  be  nominated  and 
elected  in  the  same  manner  as  an  active  member.  Correspond- 
ing members  shall  be  invited  to  aid  this  society  in  its  work,  and 
to  attend  its  meetings,  but  they  shall  not  pay  any  fees  or  dues 
nor  vote  at  any  of  its  meetings. 

Sec.  4.  Of  life  members. — Any  reputable  person,  with  qual- 
ifications similar  to  those  required  of  active  members,  may  be 
elected  a  life  member  by  paying  the  sum  of  twenty-five  (S25) 
dollars,  provided  such  person  be  nominated  and  elected  in  the 
same  manner  as  an  active  member.  Life  members  shall  pay  no 
annual  dues,  and  are  entitled  to  receive  free  of  charge  during 
life  one  copy  of  the  publications  of  the  society. 


SeJC.  5. — The  three  classes  of  members  may  consist  of  men 
and  women. 

ARTICLE  IV. 
OFFICERS. 

Section  i. — The  officers  of  the  society  shall  consist  of  a 
president,  a  vice-president,  a  secretary,  a  treasurer  and  an  Exec- 
utive Committee  of  nine  members,  five  of  which  members  shall 
be  elected  members,  and  the  president,  vice-president,  secre- 
tary and  treasurer,  ex-officio  members. 

Sec.  2, — The  officers  shall  be  elected  annually  by  ballot  by 
the  members  at  the  time  fixed  by  the  by-laws,  and  shall  hold 
their  office  until  others  are  chosen  and  qualified  in  their  stead. 
They  shall  perform  such  duties  as  are  imposed  by  law  and  are 
usually  incident  to  such  officers. 

Sec.  3. — The  secretary  shall  keep  full  and  correct  minutes 
of  the  proceedings  of  the  society  in  a  book  of  record,  give  due 
notice  of  all  regular  mee^-ings  and  any  special  meeting  of  the 
society,  notify  all  members  of  their  election,  collect  fees  and 
dues  of  members,  pay  the  same  to  the  treasurer,  who  shall  receipt 
for  such  payments,  and  issue  vouchers  countersigned  by  the 
president  to  the  treasurer  for  claims  against  the  society  which 
have  been  examined  and  ordered  by  the  Executive  Committee 
or  the  society  to  be  paid.  He  shall  also  have  charge,  under 
the  supervision  of  the  Executive  Committee,  of  the  books,  manu- 
scripts and  objects  of  antiquarian  interest  acquired  by  the  society 
by  donation,  bequest,  purchase  or  loan. 

Sec.  4. — The  treasurer  shall  give  bond  in  such  sum  and 
with  such  sureties  as  shall  be  required  by  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee for  the  faithful  discharge  of  his  duties  and  he  shall  keep 
the  moneys  of  the  society,  when  not  invested  by  order  of  the 
Executive  Committee,  in  an  approved  depository,  in  a  separate 
book  account,  to  his  credit  as  treasurer.  He  shall  keep  accu- 
rate accounts  of  the  income  and  expenditures  of  the  society, 
receive  all  such  sums  as  may  be  given  him  by  the  secretary  and 
give  a  proper  receipt  therefore,  collect  all  moneys  due  the  society 
or  payable  thereto,  and  pay  out  the  same,  only  upon  orders  or 
vouchers  properly  countersigned.  At  the  annual  meeting  he  shall 
present  a  statement  of  his  receipts  and  expenditures  during  the 
year,  with  a  full  report  of  the  financial  condition  of  the  soc.ety. 
Such  statement  shall  be  duly  audited  before  its  adoption. 

ARTICLE  V. 
EXECUTIVE  COMMITTEE. 

The  Executive  Committee  shall  take  charge  of  all  property 
belonging  to  the  society;  direct  the  current  affairs  thereof;  recom- 
mend plans  for  promoting  the  objects  of  the  society;  superintend 
the  interests  of  the  society,  and  perform  such  other  duties  as 


may  devolve  upon  it  by  law  or  be  committed  to  it  from  time 
to  time  by  the  society.  It  shall  make  a  general  report  at  the 
annual  meeting.  It  may  elect  its  own  chairman  and  secretary 
and  shall  meet  statedly  for  the  transaction  of  its  business  once 
at  least  every  quarter,  and  at  the  call  of  the  president  when  nec- 
essary, and  the  presence  of  five  of  its  members  shall  constitute 
a  quorum.  It  shall  also  have  power  to  approve  and  order  paid 
all  bills  under  the  amount  of  twenty-five  ($25)  dollars,  but  all 
bills  of  S25  or  over  must  be  passed  upon  by  the  society. 

A^  the  first  election  of  the  Executive  Committee,  two  mem- 
bers shall  be  elected  for  the  term  of  one  year  and  three  members 
for  the  term  of  two  years,  and  such  rotation  shall  be  observed 
at  each  annual  meeting  thereafter. 

ARTICLE  VI. 

VACANCIES. 

Any  vacancies  occuring  in  the  board  of  officers  or  Execu- 
tive Committee  during  the  year  shall  be  filled  by  the  Executive 
Committee  until  the  next  election. 

ARTICLE  VII. 

DEPOSITS. 

Section  i. — Any  person  who  shall  deposit  specimens  of  nat- 
ural history,  objects  of  virtue  or  other  articles  of  interest  for 
inspection  and  study  may  withdraw  them  at  any  time,  provided 
the  same  shall  have  been  received  and  accepted  by  the  society 
as  deposits  only,  and  provided  five  days'  notice  of  the  intended 
removal,  shall  first  be  gven  to  the  proper  officers,  to  wit:  the 
president  and  the  secretary.  All  articles  received  as  deposits 
shall  be  so  marked,  numbered  and  registered  in  a  book  kept  for 
that  purpose,  with  the  name  of  the  depositor. 

ARTICLE  VIII. 

AMENDMENTS. 

Section  i. — Any  part  of  this  constitution  or  the  by-laws 
may  be  amended  or  repealed  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of  the  mem- 
bers present  at  any  annual  meeting;  provided  that  a  wntten 
copy  of  the  intended  amendment  or  of  a  resolution  to  repeal 
shall  have  been  read  before  the  society  at  the  preceding  regular 
or  annual  meeting. 

By  unanimous  consent  an  amendment  or  repeal  may  be 
agreed  to  without  previous  notice  being  given. 


BY-LAWS. 

ARTICLE  I. 

MEETINGS. 

Section  i. — The  annual  meeting  of  the  society  shall  be 
held  in  the  City  of  Allentown  on  the  second  Saturday  of  January 
at  2  P.  M.  in  each  and  every  year.  At  the  meeting  an  election 
of  officers  for  the  society  shall  be  held.  Such  officers  shall  be 
nominated  in  open  meeting  and  shall  be  elected  by  ballot,  unless 
the  requirement  be  dispensed  with  by  consent  of  two-thirds  of 
the  members  present. 

Sec.  2. — The  regular  meetings  of  the  society  shall  be  held 
at  2  P.  M.  on  the  second  Saturdays  of  May  and  October  of  each 
and  every  year  at  such  places  as  may  be  designated  by  the  Exec- 
utive Committee. 

Sec.  3. — Adjourned  or  special  meetings  may  be  held  at  any 
time  or  place  that  may  be  designated  by  the  president  or  Exec- 
utive Committee  at  the  request  of  nine  members. 

Sec.  4. — All  meetings  shall  be  open  to  the  public. 

Sec.  5. — Nine  members  shall  constitute  a  quorum  of  the 
society. 

ARTICLE  II. 

STANDING   COMMITTEES. 

Section  i. — At  the  annual  meeting  or  within  a  reasonable 
time  thereafter  the  president  may  appoint  the  following  stand- 
ing committees  to  serve  for  one  year :  A  Committee  on  Literary 
Exercises,  a  Committee  on  Biography,  a  Committee  on  History, 
a  Committee  on  Genealogy,  a  Committee  on  Manuscripts,  Relics, 
Curios  and  Antiquities,  a  Committee  on  Necrology,  a  Committee 
on  Pictures,  Photographs  and  Paintings,  a  Committee  on  Piint- 
ing  and  Publishing. 

Each  committee  is  to  consist  of  three  members.  It  shall 
be  the  duty  of  each  committee  to  keep  a  full  record  of  every- 
thing relating  to  the  particular  subject  designated  by  its  name, 
such  documents  to  be  kept  in  a  book  or  books,  furnished  by  the 
society,  and  to  remain  in  the  library  as  the  property  of  the  society. 

ARTICLE  III. 

ORDER   OE   BUSINESS. 

Section  i. — The  order  of  business  shall  be  as  follows:  i. 
Reading  of  minutes.  2.  Minuting  names  of  members  present. 
3.  Election  of  members.  4.  Presenting  new  members  and  intro- 
ducing visitors  from  other  societies.  5.  Announcing  decease  of 
members  and  referring  same  to  Committee  on  Necrology,  etc. 
6.      Correspondence.       7.      Deferred  business.      8.      Reports  of 


8 

committees  and  officers.  9.  Announcing  donations  to  library 
and  museum.  10.  New  business.  11.  Reading  of  papers  and 
delivering  addresses  before  the  society.     12.     Adjournment. 

»SivC.  2. — At  the  annual  meeting  the  election  of  officers  shall 
occur  immediately  after  the  election  of  memberg. 

ARTICLE  IV. 

PUBUCATIONS. 

All  publications  of   this  society,   that  is,   to  say  pamphlet 
publications,  must  be  of  uniform  size  of  page. 
Adopted  as  a  whole  June  15,  1904. 


LECTURE  AT  MUHLENBERG  COLLEGE, 
NOVEMBER  3d,  1905. 

The  following  account  of  the  lecture  by  John  W.  Jordan, 
L.L.  D.,  appeared  in  the  Allentown   Item,  November  4,  1906: 

"A  lecture  under  the  auspices  of  the  Lehigh  County  Histori- 
cal Society  was  given  yesterday  afternoon  in  the  Chapel  of  Muh- 
lenberg College,  the"  speaker  being  John  W.  Jordan,  LL.  D.,  of 
Philadelphia,  Librarian  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. A  brief  talk  was  also  given  by  Luther  R.  Kelker  of 
Harrisburg,  State  Archivist.  Prof.  George  T.  Ettinger,  Dean  of 
the  faculty  of  the  college  and  President  of  the  County  Histori- 
cal Society,  presided  and  happily  introduced  the  speakers.  A 
fair-sized  audience  was  assembled,  including  many  students  of 
the  college,  not  a  few  interested  ladies  and,  among  others.  Rev. 
Dr.  S.  E.  Ochsenford,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  A.  Bauman,  Rev.  J.  W.  Mat- 
tern,  Prof.  H.  A.  Kline,  David  McKenna,  of  Slatington,  H.  A. 
Schuler,  Rev.  Dr.  T.  S.  Land,  President  of  the  Allentown  College 
for  Women,  Rev.  C.  M.  Jacobs,  C.  F.  Berkemeyer,  Rev.  J.  F. 
Lambert,  of  Catasauqua,  Dr.  F.  C.  Seiberling  and  C.  R.  Roberts. 

J  Dr.  Jordan's  Address. 

Dr.  Jordan  gave  an  interesting  talk  on  the  early  settlement 
of  Pennsylvania  by  the  Quakers  under  George  Fox  in  1672  and 
of  William  Penn's  acquirement  of  the  domain  and  his  liberal 
dealings  with  whites  and  Indians.  Then  plunging  into  the  local 
part  of  his  address,  Dr.  Jordan  said : 

'Every  inhabitant  of  Pennsylvania  should  cherish  the  sen- 
timent of  State  pride  and  do  whatever  he  can  to  advance  her 
interest  and  promote  her  glory.  We  have  never  properly  appre- 
ciated ourselves! 

Ivvcry  citizen  of  Lehigh  county  should  support  a  society, 
which  in  an  especial  way  preserves  the  historic  honor  of  the 
county.     Some  can  give  money,   some  can  give  books,   manu- 


i 


scripts  and  pictures;  all  can  give  good  feeling  and  good  words. 
Let  each  give  what  he  can,  and  he  will  give  precisely  what  he 
ought.  And  let  him  give  it  soon;  and  let  him  living  give  it, 
that  he  may,  with  you,  himself  long  see  and  long  enjoy  his  bounty. 

Collectors  of  manuscripts  and  books,  possessors  of  historic 
paintings;  you  who  spend  fortunes  upon  records  of  the  past, 
and  show  with  pride  your  rich  and  curious  stores,  think  you 
that  they  who  come  after  you,  will  share  your  zeal,  your  affec- 
tion and  your  care?  All  these  you  can  bequeath  to  whom  you 
will,  but  bequeath  you  can  not  the  zeal  with  which  you  have 
collected  them,  the  care  with  which  you  have  preserved  them, 
the  affection  with  which  you  guard  them.  Here,  then,  collector, 
in  this  society,  when  you  have  done  with  them,  you  had  best 
deposit  these  treasures  of  the  past  you  value.  Here  is  a  society 
organized  to  do  the  very  thing  which  living  you  were  always 
doing,  but  which  when  dead,  you  can  no  longer  do.  Here  are 
men  of  taste,  who  will  take  pains  in  preserving  and  showing 
your  collections,  men  who  will  learnedly,  eloquently  and  with 
truth  that  your  epitaph  shall  envy,  do  what  living  or  dying 
you  could,  yourself,  have  never  done,  extol  the  virtues  of  the 
man  who  owned  them.  Your  Historical  Society  is  in  short 
yourself,  only  more  so. 

The  duties  of  a  Historical  Society  are  not  only  the  collec- 
tion, but  the  scrutiny  of  all  original  materials.  It  by  no  means 
follows,  because  a  document  is  old,  that  it  is  curious  or  valuable; 
without  discrimination  your  rooms  will  become  the  receptacle 
of  antique  trash.  In  the  collection  and  preservation  of  mate- 
rials, a  society  can  do  much,  for  which  individual  action  is  inad- 
equate. 

There  is  a  class  of  material  which  it  is  your  especial  duty 
to  preserve;  local  imprints,  public  documents  and  newspapers. 
Let  any  one  attempt  a  minute  historical  investigation,  and  he 
will  appreciate  this  duty.  Books  of  general  history  and  biog- 
raphy may  be  procured  by  individuals,  and  are  within  the  com- 
pass of  private  libraries. 

A  Historical  Society  should  be  a  sort  of  '  Intelligence  Office ' 
for  manuscripts  and  other  original  materials.  There  are  hun 
dreds  of  valuable  manuscript  memorials  of  the  past  neglected 
or  carelessly  regarded  by  their  owners,  that  with  proper  effort 
on  your  part,  will  here  find  refuge,  and  can  be  easily  consulted 
when  the  student  comes  hither  on  an  errand  of  investigation. 
You  have  historic  places,  and  you  have  men  whom  you  justly 
desire  to  keep  in  lively  remembrance  for  their  eminent  services 
in  civil  and  military  life — it  is  not  vanity,  that  the  sentiment 
which  they  excite,  and  which  you  cherish,  should  be  preserved 
through  your  efforts.  And  forget  not  to  make  photographs  of 
the  ancient  buildings  which  have  withstood  the  cycles  of  time 
and  the  march  of  modern  improvements. 


The  history  of  no  county  is  complete  that  does  not  include 
a  history  of  its  people,  and  the  waves  of  emigration,  that  from 
time  to  time  entered  its  borders.  What  study  is  there  which 
sets  this  so  clearly  before  the  historian  as  genealogy.  He  may 
collect  elsewhere  the  material  for  some  of  his  statements,  but 
when  he  comes  to  the  history  of  the  people  it  is  the  genealogist 
who  points  out  to  him  the  classes  or  races  who  settled  here,  and 
does  so  with  an  exactness  that  conveys  an  almost  personal  knowl- 
edge of  the  people  who  took  part  in  the  emigrations.  Such  a 
section,  he  can  say,  was  settled  by  such  a  class.  Here  they  pur- 
chased land.  Here  their  descendants  remain.  Love  of  coun- 
try, I  believe,  is  the  spirit  that  pervades  the  study  of  family  his- 
tory in  America,  and  if  in  doing  so,  it  creates  a  class,  who  feel 
that  in  the  history  of  their  country  there  is  something  that  belongs 
to  them  by  inheritance,  something  of  which  they  are  a  part, 
does  it  not  assure  us  that  the  spirit  that  inspired  the  men  who 
settled  here,  and  those  who  followed  them,  to  build  on  the  founda- 
tions they  laid,  that  in  their  hands  the  future  is  secure?  No 
doubt  you  have  members  whose  prediliction  is  for  genealogical 
research.  Permit  me  to  suggest  to  them,  that  they  turn  their 
attention  to  the  copying  of  church  registers,  family  records,  and 
making  abstracts  of  the  wills  on  file  in  the  office  of  your  Regis- 
ter of  Wills.  I  can  assure  you  that  it  will  be  a  very  important 
and  popular  department  of  your  society. 

Your  society  may  be  made  a  place  of  communion  in  the 
special  branch  of  literature  for  which  it  was  instituted,  where 
those  interested  in  such  studies  may  be  sure  to  find  companions 
and  fellow  students,  where  the  young  man  who  is  tracing  out 
some  line  of  historical  research,  may  find  counsel  and  assistance 
from  those  who  have  more  maturely  studied  the  same  thing, 
whither  the  older  student  may  also  come  and  gain  from  the 
active  and  suggestive  mind  of  younger  men,  ideas  and  details 
of  knowledge  which  have  escaped  him.  Where  all  interested  in 
this  pursuit  may  meet  on  the  same  broad  platform,  and  freely 
with  a  precise  object  in  view,  think  and  talk  together.  In  the 
inaugural  address  of  the  first  president  of  my  own  society,  back 
in  1825,  he  declared  that  its  membership  was  not  confined  to 
one  sex.  'Those  to  whom  society  is  in  every  respect  so  much 
indebted;  who  confer  on  life  its  finest  felicities,  and  who  soften 
and  allay  the  bitterness  of  adversity,  the  wife,  the  daughter  and 
the  sister,  may  be  admitted  and  encouraged  to  assist  you.'  Cor- 
dially invite  the  cooperation  of  the  women  of  Lehigh  County 
to  aid  you.  Surely  you  will  find  them  zealous  and  untiring  in 
their  efforts  to  further  the  aims  and  objects  for  which  you  were 
organized.  Another  important  factor  to  the  success  of  your 
society  will  be  to  have  the  sympathy  and  support  of  the  local 
newspaper  press.  It  will  freely  print  your  transactions  and  excite 
and  increase  a  general  attention  to  your  work. 


II 

Let  all  strive  to  collect  every  memorial  of  their  forefathers, 
which  time  may  have  spared.  Having  rescued  these  memorials 
from  oblivion,  place  them  beyond  the  reach  of  accident.  In 
this  work  labor  unceasingly  till  it  is  accomplished.  Give  the 
future  historians  of  the  State  no  cause  to  reproach  you  for  hav- 
ing left  him  nothing  but  arid  chronicles  of  events,  but  let  him 
find  among  the  fruits  of  your  humble  toil,  materials,  not  only 
for  faithful  narrative,  but  for  a  philosophical  exposition  of  the 
conduct  and  principles  and  institutions  of  your  ancestors. 

The  study  of  local  history  is  wholesome  and  invigorating, 
and  strengthens  genuine  patriotism — it  creates  and  keeps  active 
the  virtue  of  loyalty  and  makes  us  rationally  sanguine  of  the 
future — because  proud  of  the  past.' 

Mr.  Kklker's  Talk. 

Mr.  Kelker  was  introduced  and  gave  a  brief  talk  about  the 
work  of  the  State  Bureau  with  which  he  is  connected  and  which 
is  preserving  the  State's  valuable  records  and  putting  them  in 
handy  form  for  reference  and  study.  He  spoke  of  recently  find- 
ing the  muster  roll  of  Stephen  Balliet's  Battalion  formed  in  this 
section  in  the  Revolutionary  War  and  containing  400  names. 
The  roll  was  in  forty-three  pieces,  which  have  been  put  together 
and  will  be  published  shortly  in  the  Pennsylvania  Archives." 


MINUTES  OF  FIRST  ANNUAL  MEETING. 

AlIvEntown,  Pa.,  January   13,  1906. 

The  first  annual  meeting  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical 
Society  was  held  this  afternoon,  in  the  rooms  of  the  AUentown 
Oratorio  Society,   No.   37  South  Seventh  Street. 

The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  President  Ettinger. 
The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 

The  secretary  reported  his  attendance  as  a  delegate  to  the 
first  annual  meeting  of  the  Pennsylvania  Federation  of  Histori- 
cal Societies,  held  January  4,  1906,  at  Harrisburg,  and  explained 
the  purposes  of  the  federation. 

A  resolution  was  adopted  declaring  all  persons  elected  to-day 
charter  members. 

On  motion  of  Messrs.  D.  A.  Miller  and  J.  J.  Hauser,  the 
following  persons  were  elected  to  membership:  J.  O.  Knauss, 
Harrisburg,  Prof.  R.  C.  Horn,  D.  W.  McFetridge,  Hokendauqua, 
Dr.  W.  J.  Hertz,  D.  G.  Dery,  Rev.  C.  J.  Cooper,  D.  D.,  Dr.  P.  J. 
Kress,  David  McKenna,  Slatington,  Rev.  John  W.  Mattern,  Major 
Thomas  Daugherty,  Alfred  F.  Berlin,  Frank  Jacobs,  Mrs.  Jennie 
C.  W.  Dorney,  Mrs.  Annie  E.  Leisenring,  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Bridges 
Stopp,  Mrs.  Matilda  G.  Iredell,  William  M.  Gehman,  Macungie, 


12 

Benj.  F.  Cressman,  Macungie,  Rev.  H.  M.  J.  Klein,  A.  A.  Kern, 
Slatington,  Harold  W.  Pretz,  Edwin  G.  Trexler,  Thomas  P. 
Wenner,  Thomas  K.  Home,  Henry  S.  Moyer,  Rev.  Thomas  H. 
Krick,  Coplav,  James  L.  Schaadt,  E.  H.  Reninger  and  Rev. 
J.  D.  Schindel. 

The  election  of  officers  followed:  Messrs.  J.  J.  Hauser  and 
David  McKenna  nominated  Prof.  Geo.  T.  Ettinger  for  President; 
Messrs.  Charles  R.  Roberts  and  D.  A.  Miller  nominated  Mr. 
Philip  W.  Flores  for  Vice-President;  Messrs.  McKenna  and  Hon. 
Frank  M.  Trexler  nominated  Mr.  Charles  R.  Roberts  for  Secre- 
tary; and  Messrs.  Cooper  and  McKenna  nominated  Leo  Wise, 
Esq.,  for  Treasurer.     All  were  duly  elected. 

Nominations  for  five  members  of  the  Executive  Committee 
were  then  called  for.  Mr.  Roberts  nominated  Rev.  S.  E.  Och- 
senford,  D.  D.,  Mr.  Miller  nominated  Hon.  Frank  M.  Trexler, 
Rev.  Cooper  nominated  David  A.  Miller,  Hon.  F.  M.  Trexler 
nominated  David  McKenna,  Mr.  Miller  nominated  O.  P.  Knauss. 
The  nominees  were  then  elected. 

The  following  donations  to  the  society  were  then  acknowl- 
edged and  a  note  of  thanks  passed  to  the  donors: 

By  Frank  Ried  Diffenderfer,  Litt.  D.,  Secretary  Lancaster 
County  Historical  Society:  Vol.  II,  No.  i;  Vol.  Ill,  Nos.  8  and 
9;  Vol.  V,  Nos.  3,  4,  6  and  7;  Vol.  VI,  Nos.  i  and  5;  Vol.  VII, 
Nos.  2,  3  and  6;  Papers  read  before  and  proceedings  of  the  Lan- 
caster County  Historical  Society. 

By  Charles  R.  Roberts :  Militia  Proclamation  by  Gen.  Peter 
Ruch,  dated  Sept.  23,  1824,  ordering  the  militia  to  parade  in 
Allentown  in  honor  of  General  LaFayette. 

By  George  T.  Ettinger :  Genealogical  and  Personal  Memoirs 
oi  the  Lehigh  Valley,  edited  by  John  W.  Jordan,  LL.  D.,  Edgar 
M.  Green,  A.  M.,  M.  D.,  and  George  T.  Ettinger,  Ph.  D.,  1905. 
Two  volumes. 

By  John  W.  Jordan,  LL.D.,  Librarian  of  the  Historical 
Society  of  Pennsylvania:  Lafayette  at  Brandywine,  published 
by  Chester  County  Historical  Society,  1896.  Pennsylvania  Maga- 
zine of  History  and  Biography,  January  1905,  Vol.  29,  No.  i. 
Portraits  of  Bishop  Spangenberg,  Robert  Morris,  William  Henry 
and  John  Hazel  wood.  Facsimile  Franklin's  German  newspaper, 
Philadelphia  Zeitung,  May  6,  1732.  Several  pamphlets  and  fac- 
similes. 

By  Hon.  M.  C.  L.  Kline:  The  Congressional  Record.  Con- 
gressional Directory,  59th  Congress,  1906.  Annual  Report  of 
the  Smithsonian  Institution  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1904. 

By  Hon.  James  L.  Marsteller:  Pennsylvania  at  Gettys- 
burg, 2  Vols.,  1904. 

By  James  J.  Hauser:  History  of  Lehigh  County,  by  James 
J.  Hauser,  First  Edition,  1901,  94  pages.  History  of  Lehigh 
County,  by  James  J.  Hauser,  Second  Edition,   1902,   120  pages. 


13 

Gentleman's  Magazine,  London,  England,  one  Vol.,  1733.  Doy- 
lestown  Democrat  of  Jan.  10,  i860,  containing  part  of  the  "His- 
tory of  the  John  Fries  Rebellion,"  by  W.  H.  H.  Davis  and  Gov- 
ernor Packer's  message.  Lehigh  Valley  Daily  News  of  Nov.  13, 
1873.  Copies  of  the  Emaus  Weekly  Star,  Emaus  Times,  Emaus 
Herald,  National  Educator,  Allentown  Morning  Call  and  Spring- 
town  Times,  containing  articles  on  "Inscriptions  of  Emaus  Mor- 
avian Burying  Ground,"  "Battle  of  Trenton,"  "Trip  from  Mertz- 
town  to  Allentown,"  "Reminiscences  of  School  Life,"  "The 
Pennsylvania  German,"  and  "The  Walking  Purchase." 

By  Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel,  Executor  of  Estate  of  Jos.  M.  Eisen- 
hart:  Docket  of  George  S.  Eisenhart,  Justice  of  the  Peace  in 
Weisenburg  Township,  from  1827  to  1842.  A-  treatise  on  sur- 
veying, by  Robert  Gibson,  Philadelphia,  1803.  Draft  of  a  road 
from  Allentown  to  the  Berks  county  line,  surveyed  by  George 
S.  Eisenhart.     A  number  of  old  surveys  of  land. 

By  Dr.  W.  H.  ^Reed,  Treasurer  Montgomery  County  His- 
torical Society:  Lieut.  Col.  Jacob  Reed,  by  W.  H.  Reed,  Ph. 
D.,  M.  D.,  Norristown,  1905,  198  pages. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  Cooper  and  Mr.  Hauser,  the  Executive 
Committee  was  instructed  to  procure  a  suitable  place  to  store 
the  documents  and  archives  of  the  society. 

On  motion  of  Messrs.  Hauser  and  Miller  a  resolution  was 
adopted  that  a  committee  of  three  be  appointed  to  collect  mate- 
rial for  a  complete  history  of  the  county  by  March,  191 2. 

Mr.  Alfred  F.  Berlin  then  read  a  paper  on  "A  Bit  of  Lehigh 
County  Indian  History,"  and  Mr.  Charles  R.  Roberts  read  a 
paper  entitled,  "William  Allen,  the  Founder  of  Allentown,  and 
his  Descendants."  Discussion  followed  and  Rev.  Cooper  made 
the  suggestion  that  a  movement  be  started  looking  toward  the 
purchase  of  the  old  Muhlenberg  College  building,  "Trout  Hall," 
by  the  society,  restoring  it  to  its  original  condition  and  mak- 
ing it  the  permanent  home  of  the  society. 

There  being  no  further  business,  the  meeting  adjourned. 


MINUTES  OF  MAY  MEETING,  1906. 

A1.1.KNTOWN,  Pa.,  May  12,  1906. 

A  regular  meeting  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society 
was  held  this  afternoon  in  the  rooms  of  the  Allentown  Oratorio 
Society.  The  meeting  was  called  to  order  by  President  Ettinger. 
The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 

On  motion  of  Messrs.  Miller  and  Hauser,  the  following  nine- 
teen persons  were  elected  members  of  the  society:  Alex  S. 
Shimer,  Ethan  Allen  Weaver,  Germantown,  Pa.,  Mrs.  Abraham 
Samuels,  M.  P.  Schantz,  Frank  W.  Koch,  Ira  T.  Erdman,  A. 
J.  Ziegler,  Horatio  B.  Koch,  Rev.  J.  A.  W.  Haas,  D.  D.,  E.  A. 


14 

Soleliac,  Dr.  Howard  S.  Seip,  Frank  D.  Bittner,  Thos.  J.  Koch, 
Dr.  H.  A.  Fehr,  E.  M.  Young,  Peter  W.  Leisenring,  Miss  Eliza 
beth  W.  Bowen,    Miss    Evelyn    C.  Weinsheimer    and   Jesse   R. 
Brown. 

The  Executive  Committee  reported  having  secured  space 
for  the  storage  of  documents  in  the  vault  at  Muhlenberg  College. 
Shelf  room  for  books  will  also  be  granted  if  desired. 

The  following  donations  were  acknowledged  and  a  vote  of 
thanks  passed  to  the  donors : 

By  John  W.  Jordan,  L.L.  D.,  Librarian  Historical  Society 
of  Pennsylvania:  Baron  Stiegel  and  Old  Manheim,  by  A.  F. 
Hostetter.  The  Survival  of  the  Mediaeval  Art  of  Illuminative 
Writing  among.  Pennsylvania  Germans,  by  Henry  C.  Mercer. 
Norriton  Presbyterian  church,  by  Rev.  Charles  Collins.  Lec- 
ture on  the  Life  and  Times  of  Conrad  Weiser,  by  Morton  L. 
Montgomery.  Letters  of  Dr.  Benjamin  Franklin  and  his  son 
William  Franklin  to  William  Strahan. 

By  Thos.  K.  Home:  Lehigh  County 'German  Imprints  of 
1835,  1849  and  1857.  Allentown  and  Lehigh  County  Direc- 
tory, 1898. 

By  James  J.  Hauser:  Pamphlet  of  German  Hymns,  with 
German  and  Hebrew  title.  Leyden,  1780.  North  American 
Review,  Vols.  11  and  12,  1821  and  1822.  Liberty  and  Free 
Inquiry,  by  J.  H.  Harvey,  London,  1845.  Benjamin  Franklin 
and  the  University  of  Pennsylvania.  Fifteen  pamphlet  pub- 
lications of  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Education  on  the  His- 
tory of  Education. 

The  President  announced  the  appointment  of  Messrs.  Jas. 
J.  Hauser,  Chas.  R.  Roberts  and  Rev.  S.  E.  Ochsenford,  as  the 
committee  of  three  to  collect  material  for  a  complete  history 
of  the  county,  by  March,  191 2. 

Mr.  Alfred  F.  Berlin  then  read  a  paper  on  "Notes  on  the 
Lenni  Lenape  or  Delaware  Tribe  of  Indians." 

Mr.  Charles  R.  Roberts  read  a  paper  entitled,  "Sketches 
of  Some  Settlers  in  Lehigh  County  prior  to  1750." 

Interesting  discussion  followed,  after  which  the  meeting 
adjourned. 


MINUTES  OF  AUGUST  MEETING,  1906. 

Egypt,  Pa.,  August  17,  1906. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society 
was  held  this  afternoon  at  Egypt  Church.  On  motion  the  read- 
ing of  the  minutes  was  dispensed  with. 

The  following  persons  were  elected  members  of  the  society: 
George  R.  Seifert,  Philadelphia;  George  G.  Blumer,  Miss  Emma 
Deshler,  and  Rev.  Jere.  J.  Schindel,  Allentown;  Thos.  A.  J. 
Schadt,  Cementon;  Rev.  Geo.  P.  Stem,  Siegfried;  Rev.  F.  J. 
F.  Schantz,  Myerstown. 


15 

Announcement  of  the  death  at  SaUsbury,  England,  of  Frank 
W.  Koch,  a  member,  was  made. 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  the  donors  was  passed  for  the  following 
donations : 

By  Ethan  Allen  Weaver,  Secretary  of  the  Pennsylvania 
Society  of  Sons  of  the  Revolution :  Local  Historical  and  Biograph- 
ical Notes,  collected  by  Ethan  Allen  Weaver,  from  files  of  news- 
papers published  in  Easton,  Pa.,  Germantown,  Pa.,  1906.  (Only 
30  copies  issued,  of  which  this  is  Number  8.) 

By  Wilson  J.  Hartzel,  of  Welt  Bote  Publishing  Company: 
Skizzenaus  dem  Lecha  Thale,  Allentown,  1886. 

By  Alfred  F.  Berlin:     Haida  Texts  and  Myths,  1905. 

By  A.  P.  Zellner  and  A.  P.  Bachman,  Trustees:  Plan  of 
the  Old  Allentown  Cemetery,  with  each  grave  marked  and  dates 
and  names  given. 

By  Thomas  h.  Montgomery,  State  Librarian:  Report  of 
the  State  Librarian  for  1904. 

By  Hon.  M.  C.  L.  Kline:     Papers  of  Benjamin  FrankUn. 

The  Secretary  reported  the  following  acquisitions: 

BY    EXCHANGE. 

Chester  County  Historical  Society:  Bulletins  of  the  Society, 
1 899- 1 900,  and  1 902- 1 903.     Lafayette  at  Brandywine,  1895. 

Lancaster  County  Historical  Society:  Papers  read  before 
the  Society,  six  numbers,  January  to  June,  1906. 

Library  of  Congress:  A  List  of  Works  relating  to  the  Ger- 
mans in  the  United  States,  Washington,  D.  C,  1904.  Papers 
of  James  Monroe,  1904. 

Pennsylvania  Society  of  New  York:     Year  Book,  1906. 

Wyoming  Historical  and  Geological  Society:  The  Early 
Grist  Mills  of  Wyoming  Valley,  by  Chas.  Abbot  Miner,  Wilkes- 
Barre,  1900.  A  Day  at  Asylum,  by  Rev.  David  Croft,  D.  D., 
1902. 

Berks  County  Historical  Society:  Transactions  of  the  His- 
torical Society  of  Berks  County,  Vol.  2,  No.   i,  Reading,   1906. 

BY    PURCHASE. 

History  of  Northampton,  Lehigh,  Monroe,  Carbon  and  Schuyl- 
kill Counties,  by  I.  Daniel  Rupp,  Harrisburg,  1845.  Manners 
of  the  German  Inhabitants  of  Pennsylvania,  written  by  Benj. 
Rush,  M.  D.,  in  1789.  Notes  by  I.  D.  Rupp,  Philadelphia,  1875. 
Forty  bound  volumes  of  Harpers  Magazine,  1855  to  1880.  Two 
German  Imprints  of  Lehigh  County,  Geistliche  Harfe.  North- 
ampton, 1834,  and  Ein  Fundament  und  Klare  Anweisung,  Allen- 
town, 1849. 

An  order  was  directed  to  be  drawn  in  favor  of  the  Call  Pub- 
lishing Company  for  printing  the  first  number  of  the  publica- 
tions of  the  society,  to  the  amount  of  $32.00.  Bills  amount- 
ing to  $11.14  were  ordered  paid. 


i6 

The  following  papers  were  then  read:  History  of  the  Luth- 
eran Congregation  of  Egypt  Church,  by  Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel, 
D.  D.  History  of  the  Reformed  Congregation  of  Egypt  Church, 
by  Charles  R.  Roberts.  The  Hampton  Furnace,  by  Henry  A. 
Schuler. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned. 

After  the  meeting  a  number  of  members  visited  Kohler's 
Mill  and  Fort  Deshler. 

Among  those  present  at  the  meeting  were  the  following: 
Rev.  Dr.  F.  J.  F.  Schantz,  Dr.  L.  B.  Balliet,  Rev.  Dr.  C.  J.  Cooper, 
Rev.  Dr.  J.  D.  Schindel,  Rev.  J.  J.  Schindel,  Rev.  and  Mrs.  J. 
W.  Mattern,  Rev.  Geo.  P.  Stem,  Rev.  Thos.  H.  Krick,  Prof.  Geo. 
T.  Ettinger,  Chas.  R.  Roberts,  Henry  A.  Schuler,  Henry  S. 
Moyer,  Miss  Emma  Deshler,  Mrs.  Sarah  C.  Springer,  Miss  Mary 
Springer,  P.  Frank  Brown,  Mrs.  J.  F.  Pollock,  Thos.  A.  J.  Schadt, 
Henry  A.  Kline,  W.  L.  Blackman  and  James  J.  Hauser. 

CharIvEs  R.  Roberts, 

Secretary. 

MINUTES  OF  OCTOBER  MEETING,  1906. 

AivLENTowN,  Pa.,  October  12,  1906. 

A  regular  meeting  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society 
was  held  on  Friday,  October  12,  1906,  at  No.  37  South  Seventh 
Street. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 

Mr.  Lewis  L.  Anewalt  was  elected  to  membership,  and  John 
W.  Jordan,  LL.  D.,  Librarian  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Penn- 
sylvania, Luther  R.  Kelker,  Custodian  of  the  Public  Records, 
Harrisburg,  Pa.,  and  Benjamin  F.  Trexler,  of  Allentown,  Pa., 
were  elected  honorary  members. 

Announcement  was  made  of  the  death  of  two  members, 
Mr.  Alexander  S.  Shimer  and  Mr.  Henry  A.  Kline. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  the  donors  of  the  following 
articles:  A  picture  of  the  old  Deshler  Mill  on  the  Little  Lehigh, 
by  E.  F.  Kunkle.  Memories  of  Rev.  Joshua  Yeager,  by  Rev. 
A.  R.  Home,  D.  D.,  presented  by  his  son,  Thos.  K.  Home.  A 
number  of  volumes  of  educational  reports,  presented  by  James 
J.  Hauser. 

On  motion,,  it  was  resolved  that  the  Secretary  procure  a 
full  set  of  the  Pennsylvania  German  Magazine,  from  July,  1900, 
to  October,  1905,  22  numbers. 

Rev.  Dr.  F.  J.  F.  Schantz  then  read  a  very  interesting  paper 
entitled,  "Allentown  and  its  Vicinity  about  Sixty  Years  Ago," 
which  was  listened  to  by  the  largest  attended  meeting  the  society 
has  yet  had.     The  meeting  then  adjourned. 

Charles  R.  Roberts, 

Secretary. 


17 

MINUTES  OF  SECOND  ANNUAL  MEETING, 

Ali^Entown,  Pa.,  January  12,  1907. 
The  second  annual  meeting  of  the  Lehigh  County  Histor- 
ical Society  was  held  this  afternoon  at  No.  37  South  Seventh 
Street.  The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 
The  following  persons  were  elected  members  of  the  society:  R. 
S.  Brown,  Geo.  H.  Berkemeyer,  Eugene  T.  Quinn,  L.  J.  H.  Gros- 
sart,  Reuben  J.  Butz,  Dr.  F.  J.  Slough,  Miss  Katie  Faust,  Macun- 
gie,  Harvey  Walbert,  Trexlertown,  F.  M.  Berkemeyer  and  Rev. 
J.  A.  Scheffer.  Hon.  H.  S.  Funk,  of  Springtown,  Pa.,  was  elected 
an  honorary  member. 

On  motion  the  Executive  Committee  was  empowered  to 
receive  names  and  to  enroll  them  as  members  before  the  next 
meeting.  The  election  of  officers  followed.  George  T.  Ettinger 
was  nominated  for  President,  David  McKenna  for  Vice-Pres- 
ident, Chas.  R.  Roberts  for  Secretary  and  Leo  Wise  for  Treas- 
urer. All  were  then  elected.  The  election  of  five  members  of 
the  Executive  Committee  resulted  as  follows:  Hon.  F.  M.  Trex- 
ler.  Rev.  S.  E.  Ochsenford,  D.  D.  and  Rev.  C.  J.  Cooper,  D.  D., 
for  two  years;  and  O.  P.  Knauss  and  David  A.  Miller  for  one  year. 
A  communication  was  read  from  the  Historical  Society  of 
Schuylkill  County,  relative  to  the  marking  of  the  sites  of  old 
forts.  A  motion  was  agreed  to  that  this  society  endorse  the 
action  of  the  Schuylkill  County  Society.  Dr.  John  W.  Jordan 
was  then  called  upon  to  explain  the  aims  and  objects  of  the 
Pennsylvania  Federation  of  Historical  Societies. 

The  Committee  on  History  made  tjie  following  recommen- 
dation: "That  efforts  be  made  to  secure  competent  persons  for 
each  township  to  work  up  the  historical  material  of  such  town- 
ship, to  be  presented  in  the  shape  of  papers,  which  are  to  be  the 
property  of  the  society.  The  general  plan  of  a  history  of  the 
county  to  be  followed  is:  A  history  of  the  county  in  its  relation 
to  the  state,  topically  arranged,  as  the  Editorial  Committee  shall 
in  its  judgment  decide,  to  be  followed  by  the  history  of  Allen- 
town  and  the  several  townships." 

Charles  R.  Roberts, 
Rev.  S.  E.  Ochsenford, 
James  J.  Hauser, 
Geo.  T.  Ettinger, 
December  i,  1906.  Committee  on  History. 

Messrs.  Berlin  and  Ochsenford  moved  to  discharge  the  com- 
mittee and  refer  the  appointment  of  the  Editorial  Committee  to 
the  Executive  Committee.     Adopted. 

On  motion  of  Rev.  Scheffer  the  motion  to  discharge  was 
reconsidered. 

A  motion  was  then  adopted  to  refer  the  appointment  of  the 
Editorial  Committee  to  the  Executive  Committee. 


i8 

The  Secretary's  report  was  then  read  and  directed  to  be 
spread  on  the  minutes. 

Secretary's  Report, 
receipts. 

Dues  from  67  members,  $2.00  each $   134  00 

Two  Vols,  of  publications  sold     i   00 

Total $   135  00 

EXPENDITURES. 

Paid  as  previously  reported $     25  53 

H.  H.  Knerr,  printing   8  35 

Call  Publishing  Company,  printing 32  00 

Books  purchased 5  75 

Stamped  wrappers 2  14 

Janitor's  services i  00 

Fee,  Federation  of  Historical  Societies,  1906 i  00 

H.  H.  Knerr,  printing i  25 

Total $     77   02 

Balance  on  hand $     57   98 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  the  donors  of  the  following 
books  and  articles: 

Benj.  F.  Trexler:     A  View  of  Bethlehem  in  1757. 

Dr.  John  W.  Jordan:     A  large  number  of  pamphlets. 

Pennsylvania  State  Library:  Fifth  Series  of  Pennsylvania 
Archives. 

Thos.  K.  Home:     An  Imprint  of  1829. 

James  J.  Hauser:  U.  S.  Geological  Survey  Reports,  1902, 
1903  and  1905.     Allentown  Directory,  1902. 

The  following  papers  were  then  read:  "Some  Indian  His- 
tory of  the  Lehigh  Valley,"  by  John  W.  Jordan,  LL.D.  "Revo- 
lutionary Patriots  of  Allentown  and  Vicinity,"  by  Chas.  R. 
Roberts. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  the  readers  of  the  above 
papers.     The  meeting  then  adjourned. 

Charles  R.  Roberts, 

Secretary. 

MINUTES  OF  MAY  MEETING,  1907. 

Allentown,  Pa.,  May  ii,  1907. 

A  regular  meeting  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society 
was  held  this  afternoon  at  No.  37  South  Seventh  Street. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 

The  following  persons  were  elected  members  of  the  society: 
Claude  T.  Reno,  George  F.  Knerr,  Chas.  O.  Hunsicker,  Henry 
E.  Peters,  Martin  Klingler,  Hon.  Harry  G.  Stiles,  Oliver  A.  lobst, 


19 

and  R.  W.  lobst,  of  Emaus.  On  motion  of  Messrs.  Hauser  and 
Ochsenford,  Mr.  Howard  W.  Kriebel,  of  East  Greenville,  was 
elected  an  honorary  member. 

Announcement  was  made  of  the  death  of  two  members, 
Rev.  F.  J.  F.  Schantz,  D.  D.,  and  Mrs.  Matilda  G.  Iredell. 

The  following  donations  were  acknowledged  and  a  vote  of 
thanks  passed  to  the  donors:  A  View  of  AUentown  in  1853, 
and  a  Map  of  AUentown  in  1850,  by  Rogerson,  by  Mr.  V.  E. 
Erdley.  Proceedings  of  the  Pennsylvania  Society  of  New  York, 
of  the  Tioga  County  Historical  Society,  and  six  volumes  of  the 
Schuylkill  County  Historical  Society  publications; 

The  report  of  the  Committee  on  Outline  for  Township  His- 
tories was  adopted. 

On  motion  of  Messrs.  Hauser  and  Schuler,  the  question  of 
holding  a  summer  meeting  was  left  to  the  Executive  Committee. 

The  President  announced  the  appointment  of  a  Committee 
on  Collecting  Historical  Material.  Messrs.  Wm.  L.  Hartman, 
P.  W.  Flores,  J.  J.  Hauser,  A.  F.  Berlin,  Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel, 
E.  H.  Reninger,  and  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Krick. 

Mr.  Wm.  L.  Hartman  then  read  a  paper  on  "The  Mayors 
of  AUentown,"  and  Mr.  Chas.  R.  Roberts  spoke  on  the  organi- 
zation and  early  settlement  of  Whitehall  township.  The  meet- 
ing then  adjourned. 

Charles  R.  Roberts, 

Secretary. 

MINUTES  OF  AUGUST  MEETING,  1907. 

Emaus,  Pa.,  August  10,  1907. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society 
was  held  this  afternoon  in  the  Moravian  chapel  at  Emaus. 

The  society  was  welcomed  by  Mr.  Robert  Stansfield  and 
President  Ettmger  responded. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 

The  following  persons  were  elected  members  of  the  society: 
Miss  Minnie  F.  Mickley,  Ralph  R.  Metzger,  Mrs.  H.  M.  Chance, 
Miss  C.  Rosa  Troxell,  James  A.  Miller,  A.  R.  Weaver,  Rev.  Simon 
Sipple,  Alfred  G.  Saeger,  Mrs.  Alfred  G.  Saeger,  Henry  L.  School, 
and  Mrs.  Joseph  P.  Mickley. 

The  following  donations  were  acknowledged  and  the  donors 
given  a  vote  of  thanks: 

From  Pennsylvania  State  Library :  History  of  the  Fifteenth 
Pennsylvania  Volunteer  Cavalry,  History  of  the  Seventh  Penn- 
sylvania Veteran  Volunteer  Cavalry  and  Report  of  the  State 
Librarian  for  1905. 

From  Miss  Minnie  F.  Mickley:  Genealogy  of  the  Mickley 
Family,  1893.  Washington's  Farewell  Address,  in  German,  Har- 
risburg,  1836. 


20 

From  John  W.  Jordan,  LL.  D. :  Report  of  the  Valley  Forge 
Park  Commission,  1906. 

From  R.  W.  lobst:     Municipal  Book  of  Emaus,  1906. 

From  James  J.  Hauser:  Report  of  the  Adjutant  General  of 
Pennsylvania,  1863.  Pennsylvania  Agricultural  Department 
Reports,  1870  and  1871. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  Leo  Wise,  Esq.,  Treasurer, 
for  his  services  in  securing  a  charter  for  the  society  and  to  the 
Daily  City  Item,  Morning  Call;  Democrat  and  Law  Journal  for 
printing  the  application  for  a  charter  without  charge. 

A  paper  was  read  by  Chas.  R.  Roberts  containing  sketches 
of  early  settlers  in  Emaus  and  vicinity,  and  Rev.  Allen  F.  Abel 
read  an  interesting  history  of  the  Moravian  congregation  at  Emaus. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned. 

Charles  R.  Roberts, 

Secretary 

MINUTES  OF  OCTOBER  MEETING,  1907. 

AllEntown,  Pa.,  October  19,  1907. 

A  regular  meeting  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society 
was  held  this  afternoon  at  No.  37  South  Seventh  Street. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 

The  following  persons  were  elected  members  of  the  society: 
Dr.  Edgar  Dubbs  Shimer,  of  Jamaica,  N.  Y. ,  Hon.  C.  D.  Schaeffer, 
Mrs.  Alexander  S.  Shimer,  Rev.  H.  H.  Romig,  Hon.  W.  N.  Decker, 
of  Macungie,  Mrs.  Harvey  G.  Harlacher  and  Prof.  John  I.  Romig. 

The  Secretary  reported  the  receipt  of  the  charter  of  the 
society  and  also  the  award  by  the  Executive  Committee  of  the 
contract  for  printing  the  proceedings  of  the  society  to  Berkemeyer, 
Keck  &  Company. 

Donations  were  acknowledged  as  follows: 

By  Frank  R.  Wolle:  Rural  Free  Delivery  Directory  of 
Lehigh  County. 

By  the  Lancaster  County  Historical  Society:  Vol.  11,  No. 
7,  of  Proceedings  of  the  society. 

On  motion  the  Executive  Committee  were  given  authority 
to  make  all  arrangements  for  a  larger  meeting  of  the  society  in 
January. 

On  motion  of  Messrs.  Hauser  and  Hartman,  the  society 
decided  to  subscribe  for  the  Pennsylvania  German  Magazine  from 
the  last  number  purchased  to  the  present  time. 

Mr.  A.  F.  Berlin  being  unable  to  be  present,  a  comprehen- 
sive paper  written  by  him  on  "The  Indians  of  Lehigh  County 
and  their  Implements,"  was  read  by  Mr.  P.  W.  Leisenring.  A 
vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  Berlin  and  Mr.  Leisenring  was  then  passed. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned. 

Charles  R.  Roberts, 

Secretary. 


Reproduction  of  Portrait  of  Wm.  Allen  from  original  in  Independence  Hall,  Philadelphia. 
Pa.  and  facsimile  of  signature. 


22 


William  Allen,  the  Founder  of  Allentown, 
and   His  Descendants. 

By  Charles  Rhoads  Roberts. 

Secretary  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society;  Member  of  Pennsylvama 
German  Society;  Pennsylvania  Society  oj  Sons  of  the  Revolution; 
Bucks  County  Historical  Society. 

William  Allen,  the  founder  of  Allentown,  was  born  in 
Philadelphia,  August  5,  1704.  He  was  the  son  of  WiUiam  Allen, 
a  merchant  of  Philadelphia,  who  died  in  Philadelphia,  August 
30,  1725,  aged  55  years,  and  who  was  a  native  of  Ireland,  as 
he  mentions  in  his  will  his  sister,  Catharine  Cally,  living  at  Dun- 
gannon,  Ireland,  and  his  uncle,  William  Craige,  of  the  same 
place.  The  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  John 
Allen,  of  Dungannon,  Ireland,  who  was  married  to  a  sister  of 
William  Craige,  and  who  fled  from  Stirlingshire,  Scotland,  to 
escape  the  persecution  of  the  Presbyterians  by  James  I,  of  Scot- 
land. William  Allen,  the  elder,  married  about  1700,  Mary,  daugh- 
ter of  Thomas  and  Susanna  Budd,  a  sister  of  Rose  Budd,  whose 
daughter,  Sarah  Plumley,  married  Edward  Shippen,  of  Lan- 
caster. Mrs.  Allen  was  born  in  Burlington,  April  7,  1679,  and 
died  in  Philadelphia,  April  20,  1760. 

Wilham  Allen,  the  elder's  will,  dated  July  3,  1725,  and  pro- 
bated September  13,  1725,  mentions  only  two  children,  although 
he  had  three  other  sons,  John,  Thomas  and  James.  The  eldest 
surviving  son,  John,  died,  it  seems,  soon  after  his  father  and 
without  issue,  his  mother  not  mentioning  him  in  her  will,  but 
leaving  everything  to  her  son  William  except  a  few  legacies  to 
collateral  relations. 

William  Allen  was  baptized  August  17,  1704,  in  the  First 
Presbyterian  Church  in  Philadelphia.  He  was  married  in  Christ 
Church,  February  16,  1733  (old  style),  to  Margaret  Hamilton, 
daughter  of  Andrew  Hamilton,  Provincial  Councillor  and  Lieu 
tenant  Governor  under  William  Penn,  and  sister  of  James  Ham 
ilton,  also  Lieutenant  Governor.  Mrs.  Allen  was  born  in  1709 
and  died  in  Philadelphia,  May  13,  1760. 

The  positions  which  William  Allen  obtained  at  a  time  when 
lawyers  had  become  numerous  in  the  colony  should  only  have 
been  given  to  men  of  legal  education.     That  he  received  this, 


23 

has  been  conjectured  from  the  direction  in  his  father's  will  that 
five  hundred  pounds  sterling  be  remitted  to  him  in  London  for 
his  expenses  there.  He  was  then  twenty-one,  perhaps  study- 
ing law  at  the  Temple.  Judge  Huston  in  his  work  on  Land 
Titles,  speaking  of  Penn's  mortgage  of  the  Province  to  Gould- 
ney  for  ^6600,  of  which  a  deed  of  April  30,  1724,  recites  that 
one-fourth  then  remained  unpaid,  tells  on  page  231,  "I  have 
heard  more  than  once,  many  years  ago,  that  William  Allen,  a 
distinguished  barrister  in  London  and  afterwards  Chief  Justice 
of  Pennsylvania,  had  furnished  money  which  finally  paid  off 
this  mortgage,  and  the  books  of  the  Land  office  show  many  grants 
of  large  tracts  of  land  to  him  between  the  years  1733  and  1740." 
Allen  never  practised  law  for  any  length  of  time,  but  returning 
to  America  before  September  21,  1726,  the  date  of  the  merchants'" 
and  chief  citizens'  agreement  to  take  the  monev  of  the  Lower 
counties  at  their  face  value,  to  which  his  signature  appears;  he 
engaged  in  trade. 

On  October  3,  1727,  he  was  elected  a  Common  Councilman 
of  Philadelphia,  but  whether  then  in  the  city  or  not,  did 
not  attend  until  May  16,  1728,  the  third  meeting  afterward. 
In  1 73 1,  he  became  a  member  of  the  Assembly,  serving  until 
1739.  In  1732  he  was  Grand  Master  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of 
Free  and  Accepted  Masons  of  Pennsylvania.  In  October,  1735^ 
he  was  chosen  Mayor  of  Philadelphia,  and  at  the  end  of  his, term, 
the  Hall  of  Assembly,  just  finished,  was  opened  with  the  col- 
lation customary  from  an  outgoing  Mayor. 

The  Pennsylvania  Gazette  of  September  30,  1736,  says: 
"Thursday  last,  WiUiam  Allen,  Esq.,  Mayor  of  this  city  for  the 
year  past,  made  a  Feast  for  his  citizens  at  the  State  house,  to 
which  all  the  Strangers  in  town  of  note  were  also  invited.  Those 
who  are  Judges  of  such  things  say  that  considering  the  Delicacy 
of  the  Viands,  and  the  Excellency  of  the  Wines,  the  great  Num- 
ber of  Guests,  and  yet  the  Easiness  and  Order  with  which  the 
whole  was  conducted,  it  was  the  most  grand  and  the  most  ele- 
gant entertainment  that  has  been  made  in  these  Parts  of  America." 

With  Andrew  Hamilton,  he  purchased  the  ground  where 
the  old  state  house  is  located,  and  held  it  until  the  province  was 
able  to  reimburse  him.  The  state  house  having  been  erected 
at  the  charge  of  the  province,  but  the  estate  and  inheritance 
in  the  land  yet  remaining  in  Hamilton  and  Allen,  by  Act  of  the 
General  Assembly,  passed  February  20,  1735,  they  were  required 
to  convey  to  John  Kinsey,  of  Philadelphia,  Joseph  Kirkbridge, 
Jr.,  of  Bucks  county,  Caleb  Cow^pland,  of  Chester  county,  and 
Thomas  Edwards,  of  Lancaster  county,  as  Trustees  of  the  Free- 
men of  the  Province,  their  estate  in  the  land. 

In  business,  Allen  was  the  partner  of  Joseph  Turner,  the 
Councillor,  and  the  profits  from  commercial  enterprise,  with  the 
money  which  Allen  and  his  wife  inherited  and  the  advance  in 


24 

value  of  land  in  which  he  had  invested,  made  him  at  the  death 
of  his  father-in-law,  one  of  the  rich  men,  and  in  after  years,  not- 
withstanding his  charities,  perhaps  the  richest  man  in  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  left  the  Assembly  in  1739,  thinking  with  Hamilton, 
that  no  important  questions  were  likely  soon  to  present  them- 
selves. 

Allen  often  acted  as  Judge  of  the  Orphans'  Court  and  Com- 
mon Pleas,  and  continued  in  the  important  judicial  office  of 
Recorder  of  the  city  until  October  2,  1750,  when  having  been 
appointed  Chief  Justice  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  province, 
he  resigned  the  Recordership  as  incompatible  with  his  new 
duties.  He  was  the  only  Chief  Justice  before  the  Revolution 
who  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  For  nearly  a  quarter  of  a 
century  he  presided  over  the  Court  says  Edward  F.  DeLancey, 
in  his  sketch  (Penna.  Mag.  Vol.  i,  p.  202),  "with  a  dignity, 
learning  and  impartiality  and  intellectual  force,  equalled  by  few 
and  exceeded  by  none  of  those  great  jurists,  who  have  ever 
adorned  the  ermine  of  Pennsylvania  and  made  immortal  the 
renown  of  her  supreme  judiciary.  In  the  Supreme  Court 
Chamber  is  now  preserved  with  care,  the  very  bench  upon  which 
he  sat,  when  before  him  pleaded  the  gifted  fathers  of  that  illus- 
trious bar." 

At  the  same  time  he  continued  in  business  and  from  1756 
until  the  Revolution  was  a  representative  from  Cumberland 
county  in  the  Assembly.  His  city  residence  was  on  King  (now 
Water)  street,  adjoining  his  wharf  and  stores,  the  property  being 
about  seventy-six  feet  in  breadth  and  his  stables  and  coach 
house  being  across  the  street  and  on  the  east  side  of  Front.  About 
1750,  he  established  his  country  seat  at  "Mt.  Airy,"  a  mansion 
with  forty- seven  acres  beyond  Germantown,  since  owned  by  the 
late  James  Gowen. 

Keith's  "Provincial  Councillors  of  Pennsylvania,"  from  which 
we  quote  largely,  says,  "In  1765,  being  owner  of  3370  acres  in 
Northampton  county,  he  laid  out  the  town  of  Northampton, 
afterward  called  Allentown." 

The  date  here  is  an  error,  as  the  town  was  laid  out  in  1762. 
In  proof  of  this,  herewith  is  exhibited  a  photographic  copy  of 
the  original  plan  of  Allentown,  from  the  original  in  the  posses- 
sion of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  to  which  it  was 
presented  by  Brinton  Coxe,  Esq.,  September  13,  1886.  .  The  plan 
bears  the  following  inscription,  "Northampton  Town.  Surveyed 
by  Order  of  William  Allen,  Esq.,  1762." 

The  lands  in  Lehigh  county  of  which  William  Allen  became 
the  owner  were  part  of  a  tract  of  five  thousand  acres  granted 
to  Thomas  Penn  by  warrant  dated  May  18,  1732,  assigned  the 
same  day  to  Joseph  Turner,  and  sold  by  Turner,  September 
io»  i735>  to  Allen.  Portions  of  this  tract  were  surveyed  from 
time  to  time,  ranging  in  date  from  October  9,  1735,  to  October 


25 

28,    I740-     The  tract  which  included  Allentown  was  originally 
surveyed  for  Joseph  Turner,  November  23,  1736. 

That  William  Allen  had  already  in  1753  built  a  log  house 
on  his  land  is  proven  by  the  draft  of  a  road  surveyed  in  that 
year,  by  David  Schultze,  from  Kaston  to  Reading,  on  which 
"Allen's  House,"  is  mentioned.  Here  Judge  Allen  frequently 
came  for  recreation  and  sport,  bringing  with  him  relatives  and 
friends  from  Philadelphia,  among  them  John  Penn  and  James 
Hamilton.  This  log  building  stood  nearer  the  Jordan  than  the 
later  building,  about  where  Jordan  street  now  is,  facing  Union 
street.  Its  foundations  were  still  in  existence  when  Jordan  street 
was  opened,  about  1845,  and  were  then  removed.  From  the 
diary  of  James  Allen  it  appears  that  the  second  building  was 
not  built  until  1770.  This  was  a  two-story  stone  house,  about 
forty-five  feet  square,  its  rooms  wainscoted  with  walnut,  with 
a  park  on  the  north  side,  and  a  beautiful  lawn  on  the  south 
side.  A  stone  wall  extended  along  Walnut  street  from  Fifth 
to  Jordan  street.  In  later  years,  when  the  residence  of  Walter 
C.  Livingston,  it  was  called  the  "Livingston  Mansion." 

Although  a  politician  often  leading  a  faction  greedy  for 
office,  Allen  was  throughout  life  a  man  of  large  public  spirit, 
thinking  of  the  needs  of  the  colony,  giving  his  influence,  his 
time  and  his  pecuniary  aid  for  its  advancement.  He  was  a  large 
contributor  to  the  Pennsylvania  Hospital,  to  the  College  of  which 
he  was  one  of  the  original  trustees,  and  to  the  expedition  in  search 
of  the  North  West  Passage. 

Governor  Thomas,  writing  to  the  Bishop  of  Exeter,  on  the 
23rd  of  April,  1748,  relative  to  some  funds  the  Bishop  had  raised 
to  aid  the  German  Palatines,  says,  "If  I  might  be  permitted 
to  advise,  the  money  raised  for  this  purpose  should  be  lodged 
in  a  safe  hand  in  London,  subject  to  the  draft  of  Mr.  Wm.  Allen, 
a  considerable  merchant,  and  a  very  worthy  honest  gentleman 
of  Philadelphia,  that  he  might  see  it  regularly  apply'd  to  the 
uses  intended." 

Allen  also  assisted  Benjamin  West,  the  painter,  in  his  early 
struggles.  There  is  still  preserved,  among  the  Chief  Justice's 
descendants  in  England,  a  splendid  picture  by  West,  of  a  fam- 
ily fete  in  the  grounds  of  Governor  John  Penn's  magnificent 
seat  of  "Lansdowne,"  upon  the  Schuylkill,  which  contains  por- 
traits of  the  Governor  and  his  wife,  Ann,  the  eldest  daughter 
of  Allen,  of  all  the  Allen  family,  and  of  West  himself.  The  latter 
was  present  on  the  occasion,  and  the  beautiful,  joyous  scene  so 
impressed  him,  that  he  painted  the  picture  to  preserve  its  remem- 
brance, and  presented  it  to  the  Governor,  saying  as  he  did  so, 
"that  he  had  never  executed  a  better  painting."  These  facts 
were  told  Mr.  E.  F.  DeLancey  by  Mr.  John  Penn  Allen,  the 
Governor's  nephew,  one  of  the  twin  sons  of  Andrew  Allen,  when 
showing  him  the  picture  at  his  home  in  London  in  1867. 


26 

Besides  the  money  for  the  Gouldney  mortgage  and  the  pur- 
chase of  the  State  House  grounds,  Allen  advanced  on  one  occa- 
sion a  good  part  of  the  tax  payable  by  the  Proprietaries  under 
a  bill  proposed  for  raising  revenue,  there  being  a  deadlock  between 
the  Lieut.  Governor  and  the  Assembly,  the  former  pressing  for 
money  for  military  uses  and  not  feeling  free  to  consent  to  a  law 
which  taxed  the  Proprietary  estates,  and  the  Assembly  refusing 
to  vote  the  means  of  defence  unless  the  taxation  were  agreed  to. 
The  gentlemen  of  Philadelphia  made  up  the  sum  which  it  was 
estimated  would  have  been  due  from  the  Proprietaries  and  the 
Assembly  passed  the  necessary  money  bills. 

Samuel  Foulke,  in  his  Diary,  tells  us  that  when  Sir  Wiiiiam 
Johnson's  conduct  in  connection  with  the  Indian  treaty  of  1762 
was  criticised  in  the  Assembly,  "Ye  Judge  bellowed  forth  such 
a  torrent  of  obstreperous  jargon  as  might  have  been  heard  in  a 
still  morning  to  ye  Jersey  shore  in  vindication  of  Sir  William's 
conduct,  in  which  combat  he  was  extremely  chafed,  and  his 
lungs  so  exhausted  that  he  left  the  house  and  appeared  no  more 
this  year." 


Coat-of-Arms  and  Crest  of  Allen  Family. 

Nevertheless  in  the  Assembly  and  in  the  City  corporation, 
Allen  was  active  not  merely  in  carrying  out  the  views  of  a  party, 
but  in  promoting  objects  of  general  utility;  and  as  Chief  Jus- 
tice, Mr.  DeLancey  tells  us,  he  gave  his  services  gratuituously, 
receiving  his  salary  (£120  yearly)  only  to  appropriate  it  to  char- 
ities. 

During  his  visit  to  England  in  1763,  he  achieved  a  victory 
for  all  the  American  colonies  in  regard  to  the  bill  in  Parliament 
for  taxing  them.  A  letter  from  London  to  the  Pennsylvania 
Gazette,  dated  March  24,  1764,  says,  "The  15th  Resolution  relat- 
ing to  the  Stamp  Duty,  will  certainly  pass  next  session,  unless 
the  Americans  offer  a  more  certain  duty.  Had  not  William  Allen, 
Esq.,  been  here  and  indefatigable  in  opposing  it,  and  happily 
having  made  acquaintance  with  the  first  Personages  in  the  King- 
dom and  the  greatest  part  of  the  House  of  Commons,  it  would 
inevitably  have  passed  this  Session." 


27 

With  other  prominent  citizens  and  followed  by  his  three 
eldest  sons,  Allen  joined  the  American  Philosophical  Associa- 
tion soon  after  its  resuscitation. 

He  was  a  great  friend  of  Benjamin  West,  but  a  strong  hater 
of  Benjamin  Franklin,  and  after  the  latter  attained  celebrity, 
spoke  of  him  as  "that  Goliath."  He  charged  him  with  playing 
double  on  the  stamp  act  while  in  England.  It  was  natural  anti- 
pathy; Allen  belonged  to  the  wealthy,  office  holding  cotorie, 
whom  Franklin  had  supplanted  in  public  favor;  Allen  in  time 
became  the  father-in-law  of  Penn;  Franklin  the  leader  of  the 
populace;  Allen  was  a  merchant  prince  inclined  to  nepotism 
and  exclusive;  Franklin  was  a  satirist  and  a  leveller.  In  the 
contention  preceding  the  Revolutionary  War,  Allen,  his  family, 
and  his  friends  sided  with  the  Colonies;  and,  in  October,  1775, 
he  went  so  far  as  to  donate  a  quantity  of  cannon  shot  to  the 
Council  of  Safety,  which  body  "returned  thanks  for  his  generous 
donation;"  but  he  was  anxious  to  maintain  union  with  Great 
Britain,  and  labored  as  a  member  of  the  Assembly  for  that  end. 

In  1774  he  published  a  pamphlet  of  seventy- two  pages  in 
London,  England.  A  copy  of  this  very  rare  pamphlet  is  in  the 
Congressional  Library,  and  the  title-page  reads  as  follows:  "The 
American  Crisis:  A  Letter,  addressed  by  permission  to  the  Earl 
Gower,  Lord  President  of  the  Council,  etc.,  etc.,  on  the  present 
alarming  Disturbances  in  the  Colonies  Wherein  various  impor- 
tant Points,  relative  to  Plantation  Affairs  are  brought  into  Dis- 
cussion; as  well  as  several  Persons  adverted  to  of  the  most  dis- 
tinguished characters,  and  an  Idea  is  offered  towards  a  complete 
Plan  for  restoring  the  Dependence  of  America  upon  Great  Brit- 
ain to  a  state  of  Perfection.  By  Wilham  Allen,  Esq.,  London: 
Printed  for  T.  Cadell,  in  the  Strand,  1774." 

In  1897  Mr.  L.  Burd  Walker  published  copies  of  and  extracts 
from  letters  of  Allen  taken  from  his  letter  book  which  contains 
copies  of  187  letters  from  1753  to  1770.  This  book  fell  into  the 
hands  of  Edward  Shippen,  later  became  the  property  of  Edward 
Burd,  from  whom  it  descended  to  Mr.  Walker.  We  quote  fur- 
ther on  from  this  book,  and  only  mention  now  two  entries,  one, 
on  December  3,  1761,  when  he  writes  that  he  had  "returned 
from  the  Back  Country  where  I  had  been  trying  some  criminals," 
and  the  other  on  June  29,  1762,  when  he  says,  "At  Easton  at 
an  Indian  treaty,  and  have  a  smart  fit  of  gout." 

He  resigned  the  Chief  Justiceship  in  1774.  He  was  in  his 
seat  in  the  Assembly  in  the  month  of  June,  1776,  when,  Ban- 
croft says,  "John  Dickinson  promised  him  before  the  house  that 
notwithstanding  the  recall  of  the  instructions  to  that  effect,  he 
and  his  colleagues  in  Congress  would  continue  to  vote  against 
Independence."  After  the  fourth  of  July,  Allen  seems  to  have 
kept  quiet,  and  he  may  have  been  out  of  town  when  "disaffec- 
tion" was  taken  note  of  by  the  new  government. 


28 

E.  F.  DeLancey  says  that  not  long  before  his  death  he  went 
to  England.  He  may  have  gone  abroad  in  1776,  and  returned 
during  the  British  occupation  of  Philadelphia.  He  was  in  the 
city  on  October  10,  1778,  when  a  pass  was  granted  to  his  daugh- 
ter Mrs.  DeLancey  to  visit  him  there  with  her  small  children. 
His  will  was  dated  April  26,  1769,  and  witnessed  by  Edward 
Shippen,  Jr.,  the  Councillor,  and  Townsend  White  and  Nathan- 
iel Allen.  In  view  of  the  death  of  his  sons,  John  and  James, 
and  in  order  to  protect  his  property  from  the  operation  of  the 
attainder  of  his  other  sons,  he  executed  in  the  presence  of  Town- 
send  White,  John  White  and  Blair  McClenachen  a  codicil  bear- 
ing date  December  i,  1779,  in  which  he  devised  John's,  James' 
and  Andrew's  shares  to  their  respective  children,  and  William's 
share  to  James  Hamilton  absolutely.  He  moreover  freed  all  his 
slaves. 

In  the  early  part  of  1780,  the  American  army  needing  horses, 
those  of  the  "disaffected"  were  seized  first  and  Allen  lost  four. 
On  June  8  following,  "for  divers  good  causes  and  considerations," 
he  deeded  to  Edward  Shippen,  Jr.,  and  Tench  Coxe,  all  his  mes- 
suages and  lots  within  the  city  square  bounded  by  Arch,  Sassa- 
fras, Second  and  Third  streets,  reserving  to  himself  an  estate 
for  life. 

It  is  frequently  stated  that  Chief  Justice  Allen  died  in  Eng- 
land, but  recently  facts  have  come  to  light  which  prove  that 
he  died  at  his  country  seat  at  Mt.  Airy.  This  is  proven  by  a  note 
occurring  in  the  "History  of  Bethlehem,"  by  Bishop  J.  M.  Lev- 
ering (1903),  which  quotes  the  following  extract  from  a  letter 
written  by  Rev.  Daniel  Sydrich,  the  Moravian  pastor  in  Phila- 
delphia, to  Bishop  Nathaniel  Seidel,  of  Bethlehem,  September 
12,  1780:  "Wednesday,  the  6th  inst.,  good  old  William  Allen 
departed  this  life  quite  unexpectedly  at  his  country  seat  Airy 
Hill  (Mt.  Airy)  and  his  body  was  buried  here  the  next  day." 

From  the  accounts  of  David  Evans,  cabinetmaker,  of  Phil- 
adelphia, from  1774  to  181 1,  we  find  under  date  of  September 
7,  1780,  "Est.  Wm.  Allen,  Late  Chief  Justice,  making  his  coffin 
of  mahogany  with  plate,  horse  hire  and  attendance  on  the  corpse 
from  Mount  Airy,  ^^13." 

He  died  on  September  6,  1780  (Tilghman's  Estate,  5  Wh. 
44).  On  the  loth  Jasper  Yeates,  writing  from  Lancaster  to 
Col.  Burd,  says,  "By  a  letter  received  from  Mr.  Parr  in  Phila- 
delphia we  have  advice  that  old  Mr.  Allen  is  gone  to  his  long 
home.  Poor  gentleman.  He  is  at  length  happily  removed  from 
all  his  troubles." 

On  the  1 6th  of  the  month  his  will  and  codicil  were  proved 
in  Philadelphia  by  the  oaths  of  all  the  witnesses  except  Nathan- 
iel Allen,  who  was  deceased. 

William  Allen  had  four  sons  and  two  daughters  who  grew 
to  maturity: 


29 

John  Allen,  born  about  March,  1739. 

Andrew  Allen,  born  about  June,  1740. 

James  Allen,  born  about  1742. 

Anne  Allen,  who  married  John  Penn. 

William  Allen,  born  about  1751. 

Margaret  Allen,  who  married  James  DeLancey. 

John  Allen,  the  eldest  son,  was  a  student  at  the  College 
of  Philadelphia,  which  he  entered  May  25,  1755;  began  the  study 
of  law  under  Tench  Francis  at  Philadelphia,  but  finished  at  the 
Temple,  in  London.  He  was  elected  a  Common  Councilman  of 
Philadelphia  at  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution;  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Committee  of  Inspection  and  Observation  for  the 
city  and  Liberties;  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Provincial  Con- 
vention of  New  Jersey  in  1776,  but  was  opposed  to  Independ- 
ence. In  December,  1776,  he  put  himself  under  the  protection 
of  the  British  army  under  Gen.  Howe.  The  act  of  confiscation 
of  1778  required  him  to  surrender  himself  for  trial  for  high  treason 
before  the  20th  of  April  following.  His  death  February  23, 
1778,  before  the  act  was  passed,  saved  his  estates.  He  was 
married  in  New  York,  April  6,  1775,  to  Mary,  daughter  of  David 
Johnston,  of  New  York.  His  children  were  William  and  John, 
twins,  born  in  1776.  John  Allen  lived  near  Red  Hook,  N.  Y., 
and  died  in  1809.  The  elder,  William,  died  in  1850.  He  married 
a  Miss  Verplanck,  and  lived  at  Fishkill  Point,  Hyde  Park,  N.  Y. 
Hon.  Francis  A.  Channing,  M.  P.,  of  40  Eaton  Place,  London, 
England,  is  his  grandson. 

Andrew  Allen,  the  second  son,  was  born  in  June,  1740.  He 
was  educated  at  the  College  of  Philadelphia,  since  become  the 
University  of  Pennsylvania,  which  he  entered  May  25,  1755, 
and  from  which  he  graduated  in  1759  with  his  brother  James, 
William  Paca,  of  Maryland,  afterwards  a  Signer  of  the  Declar- 
ation of  Independence,  Samuel  Powel,  afterward  Mayor  of  Phil- 
adelphia, and  some  six  others,  the  second  class  which  proceeded 
from  the  institution.  He  then  studied  law  under  the  direction 
of  Benjamin  Chew,  at  the  time  Attorney  General,  and  about 
July,   1 76 1,  went  abroad  to  finish  his  education  at  the  Temple. 

Returning  home  almost  exceptionally  well  educated,  Andrew 
at  once  took  the  position  in  the  community  placed  at  his  hand 
by  the  social  and  political  influence  of  his  father.  He  was  ad- 
mitted to  practice  in  the  Supreme  Court,  April  20,  1765.  The 
corporation  of  Philadelphia  chose  him  as  a  Common  Council- 
man in  October,  1768.  On  the  resignation  of  Mr.  Chew,  he  was 
appointed  Attorney  General  of  the  Province  and  held  that  office 
until  the  Revolution,  about  seven  years.  He  was  invited  to  a 
seat  in  the  Provincial  Council  by  his  brother-in-law,  John  Penn, 
qualifying  December  24,  1770. 

In  May,  1774,  he  was  sent  by  the  Council  with  James  Tilgh- 


30 

man  to  Virginia  to  induce  the  Governor  of  that  colony  to  unite 
in  a  petition  to  the  King  for  a  settlement  of  the  boundaries. 
He  was  appointed  Recorder  of  Deeds  of  Philadelphia,  June  25, 
1774,  serving  until  1776. 

About  this  time,  the  dispute  with  Great  Britain  on  the  sub- 
ject of  taxing  the  colonies  became  the  all  absorbing  topic,  and 
Allen  was  in  unison  with  the  popular  feeling  to  prepare  for  resist- 
ance. 

He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  First  Troop,  Philadelphia 
City  Cavalry.  On  November  2,  1774,  some  twenty-eight  citi- 
zens, who,  it  is  said,  had  often  met  for  fox  hunting,  formed  them- 
selves into  this  company  of  Light  Horse.  They  were  all  men 
of  substantial  means,  who  had  something  at  stake  in  the  fate 
of  their  country,  and  who  needed  not  pay  to  keep  them  in  the 
field.  Some  of  them  were  representatives  of  the  elite,  and  others 
afterwards  attained  such  prominence  in  public  affairs  as  shed 
lustre  on  the  organization;  but  at  that  time  Andrew  Allen  was 
the  most  distinguished  man  among  them. 

The  officers  first  chosen  were:  Captain,  Abraham  Markoe, 
(formerly  of  the  Danish  Island  of  St.  Croix);  ist  Lieutenant, 
Andrew  Allen;  2nd  Lieutenant,  Samuel  Morris  (previously  Sheriff 
of  Philadelphia  county) ;  Cornet,  James  Mease,  etc.  The  com- 
pany after  serving  at  its  own  expense  throughout  the  war  which 
ensued  has  since  maintained  perpetual  succession  and  is  now 
commonly  known  as  the  ist  City  Troop. 

Allen  may  be  presumed  to  have  favored  the  compromise 
suggested  early  in  1775  by  the  British  House  of  Commons;  viz., 
any  colony  to  vote  a  proper  supply  and  in  consideration  to  be 
excepted  from  each  act  of  Parliament  taxing  America;  for  he 
was  present  at  the  meeting  of  the  Provincial  Council  which  com- 
mended it  to  the  favor  of  the  Assembly.  This  compromise  was 
not  accepted;  being  addressed  to  the  colonies  separately,  instead 
of  through  Congress,  it  asked  them  to  desert  each  other.  It 
was,  probably,  however,  Allen's  influence  as  much  as  John  Penn's 
incapacity  and  love  of  quiet  which  kept  the  Penn  government 
from  taking  a  forcible  stand  against  the  Whigs. 

Allen  was  one  of  the  Committee  of  Safety  appointed  by 
the  Assembly,  June  30,  1775,  for  the  defence  of  the  Province; 
and  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  delegates  to  the  Continental 
Congress.  When,  however,  after  active  service  on  the  Committee 
and  in  Congress,  he  saw  that  the  latter  body  was  only  making 
ready  to  declare  Independence,  he  withdrew  from  the  cause. 
He  resigned  from  the  Troop  in  April,  1776,  and  after  June  14, 
1776,  no  longer  attended  the  meetings  of  Congress,  although 
had  he  been  present  on  the  ist  and  2nd  of  July,  he  could  have 
prevented  the  vote  of  Pennsylvania  being  given  for  Independ- 
ence. His  last  public  office  was  burgess  from  Philadelphia  to 
the  Assembly,  which  he  was  chosen  in  May,   1776,  running  as 


31 

a  Moderate,  or  one  in  favor  of  reconciliation  with  England. 
There  were  four  to  be  chosen,  and  the  vote  stood:  Samuel 
Howell,  941,  Andrew  Allen,  923,  George  Clymer,  923,  Alexander 
Wilcocks,  921,  Thomas  Willing,  911,  Frederick  Kuhl,  904,  Owen 
Biddle,  903,  Daniel  Roberdeau,  890,  Clymer  was  the  only  one 
elected  of  those  wished  for  by  the  advanced  Whigs, 

These  figures  show  how  evenly  divided  was  the  populace 
on  the  question  of  Independence.  Its  advocates,  some  of  the 
voters  having  gone  to  the  war,  could  not  get  a  majority  over 
a  good  conservative  ticket,  although  Galloway's  statement  that 
not  one-fifth  of  the  people  desired  Independence  is  evidently 
wrong  as  to  Philadelphia  at  least. 

Christopher  Marshall  says  in  his  diary:  "I  think  it  may 
be  said  with  propriety  that  the  Quakers,  Papists,  Church,  Allen 
family,  with  all  the  Proprietary  party,  were  never  so  happily 
united  as  at  this  election,  notwithstanding  the  Friends'  former 
protestation  and  declaration  of  never  joining  with  that  party 
since  the  club  or  knock  down  election  of  1742.  Oh!  tell  it  not 
in  Gath,  or  publish  it  in  the  streets  of  Askalon,  how  the  testi- 
mony is  trampled  upon!" 

After  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  Allen  attached  him- 
self to  the  British  army  and  was  with  it  at  its  entry  into  Phil- 
adelphia. In  March,  1778,  the  Pennsylvania  Assembly  passed 
an  Act  of  Attainder  against  him,  in  consequence  of  which  much 
of  his  property  was  sold.  The  treaty  of  Peace  prohibited  any 
future  confiscations,  and  provided  that  any  persons  could  come 
to  the  United  States  and  remain  twelve  months  unmolested  in 
their  endeavors  to  obtain  restitution.  Allen  went  to  England 
about  the  close  of  the  War,  but  visited  Pennsylvania  in  1792 
and  remained  a  few  years.  The  treaty  of  1794  with  Great  Brit- 
ain provided  that  British  subjects  holding  land  in  America,  or 
American  citizens  holding  land  in  England  should  with  their 
heirs  and  assigns  hold  and  dispose  of  the  same  as  if  natives, 
and  that  the  United  States  make  restitution  for  losses  occa- 
sioned by  the  non-payment  of  debts  to  British  subjects  con- 
tracted before  the  Peace,  to  be  ascertained  by  commissioners 
to  be  appointed.  He  endeavored  without  success  to  collect  the 
money  paid  to  the  state  on  his  land  contracts.  He  seems  to 
have  resided  afterwards  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  Hammond. 

He  died  (Gent.  Mag.),  March  7,  1825,  in  Montagu  street, 
Portman  Square,  London,  aged  85.  He  married,  April  24,  1768, 
Sarah,  eldest  daughter  of  William  Coxe,  alderman  of  Philadel- 
phia, by  his  wife,  Mary,  daughter  of  Tench  Francis,  Esq.,  Attor- 
ney General  of  Pennsylvania.  William  Coxe  was  a  son  of  Col. 
Daniel  Coxe,  Chief  Justice  of  New  Jersey. 

Mrs.  Allen  was  called  "the  beautiful  Sally  Coxe,"  in  Phil- 
adelphia.    Their  children  were: 

Andrew,  founder  of  the  Anchor  Club,  in  Philadelphia.     Brit- 


32 

ish  Consul  in  Boston.  Died  without  issue  at  Clifton,  near  Bris- 
tol, England,  December  3,  1850.  He  married  Maria,  daughter 
of  Charles  Coxe,  of  Sydney. 

Ann,  who  died  unmarried. 

Elizabeth,  who  died  unmarried. 

Margaret,  who  married  May  20,  1793,  i^  Philadelphia,  George 
Hammond,  the  first  British  Minister  to  the  United  States.  He 
was  for  some  time  Under  Secretary  of  State  for  Foreign  Affairs. 
He  died  in  Portland  Place,  London,  April  23,  1853,  aged  90. 
Mrs.  Hammond  died  December  8,  1838. 

Maria,  who  died  unmarried. 

John  Penn,  born  October  25,  1785.  M.  A.  (Univ.  Oxon.),. 
died  unmarried. 

Thomas  Dawson,  born  October  25,  1785.  M.  A.  (Univ. 
Oxon.).  Rector  of  North  Cerney,  Gloucester.  Died  without 
issue.  Married  August  26,  1840,  Jane,  widow  of  Rev.  E.  C. 
Henry,  and  daughter  of  E.  H.  Mortimer. 

Anne  Allen,  daughter  of  William  Allen,  married  May  31, 
1766,  John  Penn,  Lieutenant  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  son  of 
Richard  and  grandson  of  William  Penn.  He  was  born  in  Phil- 
adelphia in  1728,  from  which  circumstance  he  was  called  the 
"American  Penn."  He  was  Governor  of  the  Province  from  1763. 
to  1 771,  and  also  from  1773  to  the  end  of  the  Proprietary  govern- 
ment in  1776.  He  continued  in  the  country  during  the  Revo- 
lution, and,  in  1777,  having  refused  to  sign  a  parole,  he  was 
confined  by  the  Whigs  at  Fredericksburg,  Va.  Governor  Penn 
died  at  the  country  seat  of  Andrew  Allen,  in  Berks  county^ 
February  9,  1795. 

William  Allen,  fourth  son  of  William  Allen,  was  born  about 
1 75 1.  He  became  a  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  a  Pennsylvania  regi- 
ment, January  4,  1776,  and  at  the  breaking  out  of  the  Revolu- 
tionary War  served  under  St.  Clair,  but  after  the  Declaration 
of  Independence  resigned  his  commission  and  joined  the  British. 
In  1778  he  raised  a  company  called  the  Pennsylvania  Loyalists, 
and  with  the  rank  of  Lieutenant  Colonel  was  the  commanding 
officer.  Sabine's  "American  Loyalists"  says:  "From  the 
influence  of  his  family  and  from  his  personal  standing,  he  expected 
to  make  rapid  enlistments,  but  was  disappointed.  At  the  Siege 
of  Pensacola,  where  one  of  the  men  who  attempted  to  desert 
received  the  crudest  punishment,  a  shell  was  thrown  into  the 
door  of  the  magazine  as  the  men  were  receiving  powder,  and 
forty-five  of  this  regiment  were  killed  and  a  number  wounded. 
In  1782,  and  near  the  close  of  the  contest,  though  still  in  ser- 
vice, the  Pennsylvania  Loyalists  were  of  but  little  consequence 
in  point  of  numbers."  He  was  very  witty,  affable,  and  of  remark- 
ably fine  manners,  and  as  much  a  favorite  with  his  officers  and 


33 

men  as  he  was  in  society.  It  was  of  him,  and  not  of  his  father, 
the  Chief  Justice,  after  whom  he  was  named,  of  whom  it  was 
said,  when  he  resigned  his  command  under  Congress  to  that 
body,  that  he  did  so,  "not  because  he  was  totally  unfit  for  it, 
but  because  the  Continental  Congress  presumed  to  declare  the 
American  states  free  and  independent,  without  first  asking  the 
consent  and  obtaining  the  approbation  of  himself  and  wise  fam- 
ily." He  was  included  in  the  Act  of  Confiscation  of  March, 
1778,  and  after  the  war  lived  in  England.  He  died  unmarried, 
in  London,  July  2,  1838,  aged  87  years. 

Margaret  Allen,  daughter  of  William  Allen,  died  at  Tun- 
bridge  Wells,  England,  October  18,  1827.  She  married  at  Shrews- 
bury, N.  J.,  August  19,  1 77 1,  James  DeLancey.  He  was  born 
in  1732;  graduated  at  Cambridge,  England;  was  aide  de  camp 
to  General  Abercrombie  at  Ticonderoga;  and  represented  New 
York  city  in  the  Colonial  Assembly.  He  died  at  Bath,  England, 
April  8,  1800.  He  was  the  leader  of  the  Conservative  or  "  DeLan- 
cey  Party"  in  the  Province  down  to  the  end  of  British  rule. 
He  was  the  eldest  son  of  James  DeLancey,  Chief  Justice  and 
Governor  of  New  York,  and  his  wife  Anne,  daughter  of  Colonel 
Heathcote,  of  New  York. 

James  Allen,  the  third  son  of  William  Allen,  and  the  one 
in  whom  we  as  residents  of  Allentown  are  most  interested,  was 
born  about  1742.  He  entered  the  College  of  Philadelphia  with 
his  brother  Andrew,  May  25,  1755;  graduated  in  1759;  studied 
law  with  Shippen,  the  Provincial  Councillor;  and  in  July,  1761, 
went  to  London,  England,  to  complete  his  law  studies  at  the 
Temple,  where  he  remained  until  1765.  In  his  letter  book,  his 
father  writes  under  date  of  July  20,  1761,  to  his  agent  in  London 
that  Andrew  and  James  have  gone  to  London  to  the  Temple 
to  study  law ;  and  that  their  expenses  are  not  to  exceed  ^200  a 
year,  and  adds  that  "they  are  honest  lads  and  of  more  vivacity 
and  higher  spirits  then  John,  and  particularly  Andrew,  whose 
temper  is  rather  too  quick,  of  which  I  have  frequently  cautioned 
him."  On  September  26,  1764,  he  writes,  "My  sons'  expenses 
much  exceed  anything  I  could  have  imagined." 

It  was  a  son  of  William  Allen,  and  probably  James,  who 
accompanied  Benjamin  West,  a  protege  of  his  father's,  to  Italy 
in  1760,  in  one  of  Judge  Allen's  vessels.  They  landed  at  Leg- 
horn, and  thence  went  to  Rome.. 

James  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  Supreme  Court,  Sep- 
tember 26,  1765;  was  elected  a  Common  Councilman  of  Phila- 
delphia on  October  6,  1767,  and  in  May,  1776,  was  sent  to  the 
Assembly  from  Northampton  county,  where  he  served  with  abil- 
ity and  courage.  After  the  house  adjourned  he  returned  to  his 
country  seat  in  that  county,  where  he  lived  in  retirement  a  non- 


35 

combatant.     In   1768   he  became  a   member  of  the  American 
Philosophical  Society. 

In  November,  1776,  shortly  before  the  fall  of  Fort  Wash- 
ington, he  visited  the  American  camp  on  Harlaem  Heights,  and 
was  received  and  lodged  at  his  headquarters  by  General  Wash- 
ington with  great  politeness. 

On  January  5,  1767,  William  Allen  deeded  to  his  son  James 
Allen,  land  amounting  to  3,338  acres  (embracing  the  present 
City  of  Allentown  and  its  environs) .  The  witnesses  to  the  deed 
were  Alexander  Stuart  and  Wm.  Allen,  Jr.,  and  it  was  acknowl- 
edged June  13,  1767,  before  George  Taylor,  one  of,  the  Justices 
of  the  Peace  for  Northampton  county,  and  afterwards  a  signer 
of  the  Declaration  of  Independence.  This  deed  included  the 
town  of  Northampton,  ''save  and  except  certain  Lotts  of  Ground 
situate  in  the  Town  of  Northampton  within  the  said  tract  which 
have  heretofore  been  granted  by  the  said  William  Allen  to  divers 
persons  on  ground  rent  forever."  These  lots  were  granted  by 
William  Allen  on  June  i,  1765,  for  a  yearly-quit  rent  of  nine 
shillings  sterling. 

On  February  7,  1776,  a  tract  of  61  acres  and  66  perches, 
in  Salisbury  township,  adjoining  the  above,  was  also  deeded 
to  James  by  his  father. 

Although  many  writers  credit  James  Allen  with  the  found- 
ing of  Allentown,  or  Northampton,  as  it  was  formerly  called, 
his  father.  Judge  William  Allen  was  the  founder,  to  prove  which 
was  one  of  the  purposes  of  this  paper.  At  the  time  it  was  laid  out, 
in  1762,  James  Allen  was  a  youth  of  twenty,  studying  law  at  the 
Temple  in  London. 

In  James  Allen's  Diary,  published  in  the  Pennsylvania  Mag- 
azine of  History  and  Biography,  in  the  first  entry,  under  date 
of  November  6,  1770,  he  says:  "Two  days  ago  I  returned  from 
Trout  Hall  (a  name  I  have  just  given  my  house),  where  I  had 
been  with  Mr.  Lawrence,  my  brother  Billy,  and  Jemmy  Tilgh- 
man." 

September  13,  1771,  he  says:  "Lord  Dunmore  passed  thro' 
this  town  on  his  way  to  Virginia;  I  dined  and  supped  with  him. 
This  day  I  set  off  for  Trout  Hall  with  my  wife  and  child  and 
Mrs.  Lawrence.  They  have  not  been  there  since  I  finished  my 
house." 

October  30,  1773:  "I  compute  my  business  this  year  will 
be  between  three  and  four  hundred  pounds,  which,  added  to  my 
estate,  will  fall  but  little  short  of  one  thousand  pounds  per  annum." 

July  26,  1775:  "My  profession  is  visibly  on  the  decline, 
and  when  it  is  no  longer  useful,  I  shall  suffer  considerably.  My 
last  year's  profits  were  ^600  and  this  year  would  have  increased, 
and  the  Governor  has  given  up  my  house;  these  two  articles 
would  fall  heavy  on  me;  and  reduce  me  to  the  necessity  of  retir- 
ing to  my  house  at  Northampton." 


3G 

October  14,  1775:  "Last  Thursday  and  the  preceding  Tues- 
day I  appeared  in  BattaUon  in  my  uniform,  as  a"  private  man  in 
Capt.  Shees  company." 

March  6,  1776:  "The  plot  thickens ;  peace  is  scarcely  thought 
of.  Independence  predominates.  Thinking  people  uneasy,  irres- 
olute, and  inactive.  The  Mobility  triumphant.  Every  article 
of  life  doubled.  26,000  troops  coming  over.  The  Congress  in 
equilibrio  on  the  question  of  Independence  or  no.  Wrapt  in 
the  contemplation  of  these  things  I  cry  out,  'O!  Rus  quando  ego 
te  aspiciam,  etc'  I  love  the  cause  of  Liberty,  but  can  not  heartily 
join  in  the  prosecution  of  measures  totally  foreign  to  the  original 
plan  of  resistance." 

May  15,  1776:  "I  am  now  a  political  character;  having 
been  chosen  a  Representative  in  Assembly  the  first  of  this  month 
for  Northampton  county,  without  any  opposition;  having  853 
votes  and  only  14  against  me." 

June  16,  1776:  "This  day  I  set  off  with  my  family  for 
Northampton,  with  the  chariot,  phseton  and  sulky." 

January  25,  1777:  "Having  let  my  house  to  Carter  Brax- 
ton and  some  of  the  Virginia  Delegates,  with  a  great  part  of  my 
Furniture,  at  ^150  per  annum,  and  left  Philadelphia,  which 
from  the  current  of  Politics,  began  to  grow  disagreeable ;  I  thought 
myself  happy  in  having  so  good  a  Retreat  in  Northampton 
county."     *     *     * 

*  *  ♦  "fhe  Country  was  to  me  delightful,  and  my  Neigh- 
bor Mr.  Benezet,  Captain  Symes,  a  prisoner,  together  with  occa- 
sional Visits  made  the  time  agreeable  enough."     *     *     * 

*  ♦  >i=  "During  October  and  November  I  remained  at  Trout 
Hall  a  calm  spectator  of  the  Civil  War,  but  occasionally  gave 
great  offence  to  the  violent  Whigs  in  Northampton  by  enter- 
taining the  regular  officers,  our  prisoners,  and  was  often  threat- 
ened on  that  account." 

*  ♦  ♦  "Thursday,  December  19,  1776,  at  seven  A.  M.,  my 
house  was  surrounded  by  a  guard  of  Soldiers  with  fixed  Bayonets ; 
I  got  up  and  when  I  came  down  stairs  the  officer  who  was  at  the 
front  door,  produced  a  warrant  from  the  Council  of  Safety  to 
seize  me  and  bring  me  before  them.  I  accordingly  went  to  Phil- 
adelphia and  appeared  before  them.  ^  h<  *  jn  the  after- 
noon, they  produced  a  certificate,  which  they  hoped  I  would 
not  object  to;  wherein  they  set  forth,  my  brothers  departure, 
and  the  backwardness  of  the  Militia  as  reasons  for  sending  for 
me;  that  I  had  given  them  satisfaction  respecting  my  prudent 
conduct;  that  my  conduct  did  not  appear  unfriendly  to  the  cause 
of  Liberty,  nor  inconsistent  of  a  gentleman;  and  I  in  return 
pledged  my  honor  verbally  not  to  say  or  do  anything  injurious 
to  the  present  cause  of  America.  So  we  parted  amicably  and  as 
we  began  with  great  politeness  on  both  sides." 

October   i,    1777:     "Many  of  the  Congress  passed  by  this 


37 

place  (Northampton)  and  are  since  assembled,  together  with  the 
officers  of  this  government  at  Lancaster;  Mr.  Hamilton  is  now  at 
my  house     *     *     'K 

*  *  *  Since  the  battle  of  Brandywine  many  thousand  Wag- 
gons passed  by  my  door  and  are  continually  passing  in  great 
numbers.  All  the  baggage  of  our  army  is  at  Bethlehem  and 
here;  and  what  with  Hospitals  and  Artificers  these  little  towns 
are  filled.  Every  day  some  of  the  inhabitants  of  Philadelphia 
are  coming  up  to  settle  here.  The  road  from  Easton  to  Read- 
ing, by  my  house,  is  now  the  most  travelled  in  America.     *     ^'     * 

*  *  *  My  tenants  whose  rents  are  due  in  sterling,  often  pay 
off  arrears  of  six  or  seven  years  in  continental  money  at  the  old 
Exchange  and  yet  I  dare  not  object,  tho'  I  am  as  mv.ch  robbed 
of  five-sixths  of  my  property,  as  if  it  was  taken  out  of  my  drawer." 

November  21,  1777,  referring  to  General  Howe's  evacuating 
Philadelphia,  he  says,  "Mr.  John  Adams,  who  passed  thro'  here 
a  week  ago,  spoke  of  it  as  a  certain  event,  and  said  the  struggle 
was  past  and  that  Independence  was  now  unalterably  settled; 
the  Crisis  was  over.     *     *     * 

*  *  *  My  situation  is  as  before;  I  hear  nothing  from  my 
friends  in  Philadelphia,  and  every  species  of  oppression  and  waste 
of  property  continue  as  before.  My  tenants  set  me  at  defiance, 
and  I  who  am  not  the  most  patient  man,  am  forced  to  bear  all — 
sed  manet  alta  mente  repostum. 

The  Genl.  Hospital 'is  still  here  and  the  Director  Genl.  Dr. 
Shippen  and  his  assistant  Dr.  Bond,  my  old  acquaintance,  with 
my  wife's  cousin  T.  Lawrence,  make  out  a  good  Society,  and 
we  endeavor  to  banish  Politics." 

(The  sick  and  wounded  of  the  army  had  been  sent  to  Bethle- 
hem from  time  to  time,  some  months  prior  to  this  date,  until 
four  hundred  were  quartered  in  the  Brethren's  house  alone,  and 
over  fifty  tents  in  the  garden  in  the  rear.  In  October,  those 
who  could  not  be  cared  for  were  sent  to  AUentown  and  else- 
where.) 

The  last  entry  in  the  diary  is  on  July  15,  1778,  when  he 
writes  that  he  is  not  well  and  intends  to  go  to  France  in  the 
autumn. 

He  died  in  Philadelphia,  September  19,  1778,  in  his  37th 
year,  two  months  and  four  days  after  the  last  entry  in  his  diary. 

His  will  dated  May  23,  1778,  and  probated  April  13,  1782, 
bequeaths  to  his  wife  all  the  furniture,  plate,  horses,  carriages, 
books  and  stocks  absolutely.  "Also  all  moneys  or  interest  due, 
the  house  and  lot  on  Chestnut  street,  and  office  lot  adjoining, 
the  same  which  her  father  John  Lawrence,  Esq.,  gave  to  me  on 
my  marriage.  To  my  son  James  a  tract  of  812  acres  in  Salis- 
bury Township  on  the  River  Lehi,  of  which  50  acres  were  sold 
to  Mr.  David  Deshler,  including  the  Lehi  Island,  dnd  the  town 
lots   with   the   ground   rents   arriving   from   the   lots   heretofore 


38 

granted  away;  also  a  tract  of  50  acres  on  the  hill  contiguous 
to  the  above,  and  a  tract  of  200  acres  on  the  Lehi  River  and  Jor- 
dan Creek,  now  in  the  tenure  of  Simon  Peter  Gehris,  he  paying 
to  each  of  his  sisters  the  sum  of  ^^150  each  at  their  several  ages 
of  15  years,  free  of  interest.  To  my  eldest  daughter,  Anne  Penn 
Allen,  a  tract  of  501  acres  situated  on  Trout  Creek  with  the  saw 
mill  thereon  contiguous  to  land  of  George  Stout  and  Rudolph 
Smith  and  to  land  sold  to  George  Blank  and  George  Keck.  To  my 
second  daughter,  Margaret,  a  tract  of  500  acres  situated  on  the 
Little  Lehi  Creek,  etc.  To  my  youngest  daughter,  Mary,  a  tract 
of  541  acres  contiguous  to  the  above,  etc.  The  rest  of  my  estate 
I  bequeath  to  my  son  James  and  my  three  daughters  to  be  equally 
divided  among  them,  as  Tenants  in  Common,  not  as  Joint  Ten- 
ants. My  three  negro  slaves,  Francis,  Sampson,  and  Harry, 
shall  be  henceforth  free  and  manumitted,  I  having  ever  been 
persuaded  of  the  Injustice  of  Slavery."  His  sword  he  bequeathed 
to  his  brother  Andrew,  and  his  watch  to  his  brother  William. 
His  wife  and  brothers  Andrew  and  William  were  appointed  Exec- 
utors. 

James  Allen  married  March  10,  1768,  in  Christ  Church, 
Philadelphia,  Elizabeth,  only  child  of  John  Lawrence,  Esq.,  and 
his  wife,  Elizabeth  Francis,  a  cousin  of  the  mother  of  his  brother 
Andrew's  wife.  She  was  born  in  Philadelphia,  November  30, 
1750,  and  after  the  death  of  her  husband,  James  Allen  in  1778, 
married  Hon.  John  Lawrence,  a  United  States  Senator  from 
New  York.  Her  father,  John  Lawrence,  was  born  May  30,  1724, 
and  died  January  20,  1799. 

James  and  EHzabeth  Allen  had  four  children;  viz., 

Anne  Penn  Allen,  born  February  19,  1769. 

Margaret  Elizabeth  Allen,  born  April  21,  1772. 

Mary  Masters  Allen,  born  January  4,  1776. 

James  Hamilton  Allen,  born  January  24,  1778. 

Anne  Penn  Allen,  eldest  daughter  of  James  Allen,  was  born 
in  Philadelphia,  February  19,  1769.  She  has  been  described 
as  one  of  the  most  splendid  beauties  this  country  has  produced — 
a  brunette  with  a  warm,  high  color  and  auburn  hair.  Gilbert 
Stuart  painted  three  portraits  of  her,  of  which  it  is  said  Thackery 
was  enraptured  with,  when  he  visited  Philadelphia.  (Accom- 
paning  this  is  a  portrait  of  Miss  Allen,  reproduced  from  one  of 
Stuart's  portraits.)  She  married,  April  26,  1800,  at  Christ  Church, 
Philadelphia,  James  Greenleaf,  then  of  Washington,  D.  C. 
Greenleaf  was  not  an  Englishman,  as  is  sometimes  stated,  but 
was  born  in  Boston,  Mass.,  June  9,  1765,  the  son  of  William 
Greenleaf,  a  merchant  of  Boston,  and  Sheriff  of  Suffolk  county 
in  1776.  He  was  the  twelfth  of  a  family  of  fifteen,  and  descended 
from  a  family  that  settled  in  Newbury,  Mass.,  in  1635.  One 
of  his  sisters  married  Dr.  Noah  Webster,  the  compiler  of  Web- 


James  GreEnleaf. 


Mrs.  James  GreenlEaf  (Anne  Penn  Allen), 


40 

ster's  Dictionary,  and  the  poet,  John  Greenleaf  Whittier,  was 
descended  from  the  same  family. 

In  1793  Greenleaf  was  appointed  United  States  Consul  at 
Amsterdam.  He  had  been  a  resident  of  Holland  for  some  years, 
being  partner  in  a  mercantile  house.  In  1788  he  married  the 
Baroness  Antonia  Cornelia  Elbertine  Scholten  van  Aschat,  from 
whom  he  was  afterwards  divorced. 

Greenleaf  was  a  speculator  in  lots  in  the  early  days  of  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  having  at  one  time  owned  over  1300  lots,  and  a 
third  interest  in  over  7000  more.  He  became  a  partner  of  Robert 
Morris  and  John  Nicholson  in  the  immense  land  purchases  which 
ruined  them  and  him.  They  organized  in  1795,  the  North  Amer- 
ican Land  Company,  with  Greenleaf  as  Secretary,  for  the  sale 
of  6,000,000  acres,  which  they  had  jointly  selected,  guaranteeing 
to  the  stockholders  an  annual  dividend  of  six  per  cent.  Morris 
and  Nicholson  contracted  for  the  purchase  of  his  share,  giving 
him  $1,150,000  in  drafts  on  each  other,  which  they  never  paid, 
and  on  which  he  was  sued  as  indorser. 

In  1795  he  bought  General  Philemon  Dickinson's  house  on 
Chestnut  street,  Philadelphia,  for  $28,000,  and  also  Governor 
John  Penn's  country  seat,  Lansdowne,  of  his  widow  for  $37,000. 
In  1797,  Lansdowne  was  sold  by  the  sheriff  for  $55,100,  and  the 
Chestnut  street  property  was  re-purchased  by  General  Dickinson. 

Because  of  the  insolvency  of  Greenleaf,  Miss  Allen,  prior 
to  her  marriage,  executed  a  deed  conveying  all  her  real  estate 
to  William  Tilghman  and  John  Lawrence,  in  trust.  After  their 
death,  the  General  Assembly  of  Pennsylvania  passed  an  act  in 
1828,  appointing  Walter  C.  Livingston  trustee. 

During  the  last  years,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Greenleaf  lived  apart, 
Mr.  Greenleaf  residing  in  Washington,  D.  C,  and  Mrs.  Greenleaf 
in  her  home  at  Fifth  and  Hamilton  streets,  in  this  city. 

Mr.  Greenleaf  died  in  Washington,  September  17,  1843,  and 
is  buried  in  the  Congressional  Cemetery. 

Mrs.  Greenleaf,  according  to  some  accounts,  died  in  Phil- 
adelphia. But  the  Allentown  Friedensboie  of  September  25,  1851, 
has  the  following  notice:  "Died,  on  last  Sunday  (September 
21,  1 851),  in  this  town,  of  old  age,  Anne  P.  Greenleaf,  in  her  83rd 
year." 

She  is  buried  in  North  Laurel  Hill  Cemetery,  Philadelphia. 
James  and  Anne  Penn  Greenleaf  had  two  daughters;  the  eldest, 
Mary  Livingston  Greenleaf,  was  born  January  31,  1802.  She 
was  married  at  Allentown,  July  12,  1824,  by  Rev.  Rodney,  to 
her  cousin,  Walter  C.  Livingston,  of  New  York.  The  second 
daughter,  Margaret  Tilghman  Greenleaf,  was  born  in  1803,  and 
married  Charles  Augustus  Dale,  of  London,  England,  in  July, 
1832.  Shortly  after  this  Dale  committed  suicide  by  shooting 
himself,  on  account  of  the  disgrace  of  his  imprisonment  in  the 
old  jail  here  in  Allentown,  in  which  he  had  been  confined  by  reason 


41 

of  a  family  disagreement.  They  had  one  son,  Allen  Dale,  a 
civil  engineer  in  the  service  of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad,  who 
was  drowned  in  the  Raritan  canal  near  Princeton,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1895.     Mrs.  Dale  died  shortly  after,  in  her  ninety-third  year. 

Margaret  Elizabeth  Allen,  second  daughter  of  James  'Allen, 
was  born  April  21,  1.772.  She  was  married  in  Philadelphia, 
July  I,  1794,  to  William  Tilghman,  for  twenty  years  Chief  Jus- 
tice of  Pennsylvania,  a  son  of  James  Tilghman.  She  died  in 
Philadelphia,  September  9,  1798,  but  her  remains  were  brought 
here  for  interment  under  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church.  Upon 
the  erection  of  the  present  church,  the  remains  were  placed  in 
the  tower  where  a  tablet  marks  the  spot  with  this  inscription: 
"A  memorial  of  Margaret  Elizabeth  Tilghman,  wife  of  William 
Tilghman,  of  the  City  of  Philadelphia.  Endowed  with  warm 
affection  and  an  excellent  understanding,  she  enjoyed  the  flatter- 
ing prospect  of  an  useful  and  Happy  Life,  but  it  pleased  Almighty 
God,  whose  Providence,  tho'  unsearchable,  is  all-wise,  that  she 
should  be  cut  off,  in  the  flower  of  youth,  from  this  transitory 
world.  She  died,  surrounded  by  mourning  friends,  the  9th  day 
of  September  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1798,  and  of  her  age  the 
27th." 

She  had  one  child,  Elizabeth  Margaret  Tilghman,  born  in 
Philadelphia,  April  19,  1796.  She  married  Benjamin  Chew,  son 
of  Benjamin  Chew  and  his  wife,  Katherine  Manning.  She  died 
in  Philadelphia,  June  16,  181 7,  and  left  one  son,  William  Tilgh- 
man Chew,  who  died  without  issue. 


Mary  Masters  Allen,  the  third  daughter  of  James  Allen, 
was  born  January  4,  1776.  She  was  married  in  Christ  Church, 
Philadelphia,  November  27,  1796,  to  Henry  Walter  Livingston 
of  Livingston  Manor,  N.  Y.  She  was  so  famous  for  her  graceful 
and  profuse  hospitality  that  she  was  long  known  in  New^  York 
society  as  "Lady  Mary."  She  died  at  Livingston  Manor,  Decem- 
ber II,  1855.  Her  husband,  Henry  W.  Livingston,  son  of  Walter 
Livingston  and  his  wife  Cornelia,  daughter  of  Peter  Schuyler,  was 
born  in  1768;  graduated  from  Yale  University;  studied  law  and 
was  secretary  to  Gouveneur  Morris  when  Minister  to  France. 
He  was  a  member  of  Congress  from  1803  to  1807,  and  died  at 
Livingston  Manor,  Columbia  county,  N.  Y.,  December  22,  18 10. 

They  had  seven  children;  viz., 

L  Henry  W.,  of  Livingston  Manor.  Died  in  Paris,  France, 
February  19,  1848.  Married  Caroline  Marie  de  Grasse  Depau, 
daughter  of  Francis  Depau.  She  died  at  Stuttgart,  February 
13,  1 87 1.     Their  children  were: 

Henry  W.,  married  Angeline  Urquhart,  and  had  children, 
Mary,  Henry  W.,  and  Bayard. 


42 

Silvia,  died  in  1873;  married  Johnston  Livingston,  of  New 
York,  and  had  two  children,  Carola  and  Estella. 

Walter,  of  the  Brooklyn  bar.  Surrogate  of  Kings  county, 
N.  Y.     Married  Silvia  Coster,  and  had  one  child,  Stephanie. 

Marie,  deceased,  married  Samuel.  M.  Fox,  of  Philadelphia, 
and  hg.d  a  daughter,  Stephanie,  who  died  in  1878.  She  married 
H.  B.  Livingston,  and  had  one  daughter,  Mary  Angelica. 

De  Grasse,  who  married  Anna  Hyslop. 

Robert,  died  in  February,  1877;  married  Mary  S.  McRae, 
and  had  children,  Duncan,  Mary,  Allen,  Jacqueline,  and  Robert 
McRae. 

Stephanie,  died  without  issue  at  Santander,  Spain,  Febru- 
ary 10,  1856.     She  was  married  to  Baron  Adolph  Finot. 

Louis  Phillipe  de  M.     Died  unmarried  in  188 1. 

IL  Allen,  who  died  unmarried  at  Rouen,  France. 

IIL  Walter  Copake  Livingston,  the  third  son  of  Henry  W. 
Livingston  and  his  wife  Mary  Masters  Allen,  was  a  merchant,  and 
his  house  at  Eleventh  and  Girard  streets,  Philadelphia,  was  in 
the  centre  of  the  fashionable  residence  neighborhood  in  the  '50s. 
He  was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  Senate  of  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  also  United  States  Consul  to  Marseilles,  France.  He 
took  his  family  abroad  with  him  and  repeated  in  France  the 
brilliant  entertainments  with  which  he  had  dazzled  Philadel- 
phia society.  After  the  family  returned  to  this  country  came 
the  crash.  Mr.  Livingston  had  become  heavily  interested  in 
some  iron  furnaces  near  Media.  The  venture  proved  unsuccess- 
ful and  the  attempt  to  make  it  pay  swallowed  up  his  fortune. 
The  family  property  in  Allentown  was  also  swept  away.  Mr. 
Livingston  resided  in  Allentown  part  of  the  time  in  the  old  "Trout 
Hall,"  then  called  "The  Livingston  Mansion."  He  died  Jan- 
uary 31,  1872,  aged  72  years. 

Mr.  Livingston  married  his  cousin,  Mary  Livingston  Green- 
leaf,  and  had  children,  as  follows: 

Anne  Greenleaf,  who  died  without  issue,  March  28,  1846. 
She  married  Thomas  C.   Rockhill,  formerly  Minister  to  China. 

Tilghman,  who  died  unmarried. 

James,  who  died  unmarried. 

Walter,  who  died  unmarried. 

Henry  Walter. 

Meta,  who  died  February  28,  1907,  aged  75  years,  and  was 
unmarried. 

Marion,  who  died  unmarried,  February  i,  1907,  aged  68 
years. 

Florence,  who  died  unmarried. 

After  Mr.  Livingston's  death,  soon  followed  by  that  of  his 
wife,  two  daughters  and  a  son,  but  three  members  of  the  family 


43 

remained,  Marion,  Meta,  and  a  brother,  who  went  to  sea,  and 
was  never  heard  from  again.  The  sisters  moved  to  2227  SouMi 
Clarion  street,  where  they  resided  until  their  death.  They  were 
buried  in  the  family  vault,  originally  in  Christ  Church  grave- 
yard, but  moved  years  ago  to  North  Laurel  Hill  Cemetery. 
This  vault  has  now  been  closed  for  the  last  time.  The  stone 
covering  the  vault  is  that  of  the  father  of  Judge  William  Allen, 
and  it  bears  this  inscription:  "Here  Lyeth  the  Body  of  William 
Allen,  Late  Merchant  of  this  City,  who  Dyed  the  30th  of  August, 
1725,  aged  55  years." 

IV.  Mary,  died  in  Paris,  April  14,  1880.  She  married  James 
Thompson,  and  had  two  children,  James,  who  married  Amelia 
Parnell,  sister  of  Charles  Stuart  Parnell,  M.  P.  for  Ireland.  They 
had  one  son,  James  Henry  Livingston  Thompson,  who  died  in 
Paris,  April,  1882. 

Henry  L.,  the  second  son,  died  unmarried. 

V.  Elizabeth,  who  was  married  to  Wm.  D.  Henderson,  of 
Boston,  and  died  without  issue. 

VI.  Cornelia,  of  Staten  Island,  N.  Y.,  who  married  Carroll 
Livingston  and  had  children,  Charles  Carroll,  and  Brockhorst 
Livingston,  a  Lieutenant  of  U.  S.  N.,  who  died  unmarried. 

VII.  Anne,  of  Staten  Island,  who  married  Anson  Livingston, 
and  had  three  children: 

Mary,  who  married  Capt.  Harrison,  of  U.  S.  A.,  and  died 
without  issue. 

Anne  Ludlow,  unmarried. 
Ludlow,  died  unmarried. 

James  Allen,  son  of  James  Allen,  born  January  24,  1778, 
died  August  31,  1788,  in  his  tenth  year.  His  property  then 
descended  to  his  sisters,. who,  on  May  17,  1798,  made  partition 
of  the  property  in  the  town  of  Northampton,  according  to  the 
opinion  of  Peter  Rhoads,  Thomas  Mowharter,  and  George  Palmer. 
Eventually  Walter  C.  Livingston  received  title  to  all  the  property, 
and  from  him  it  passed  into  alien  hands. 

In  the  words  of  E.  F.  DeLancey,  it  may  be  said  both  of 
Philadelphia  and  of  Allentown,  that  "the  name  of  Allen,  for 
more  than  a  century  the  synonym  for  high  ability,  political 
power,  great  wealth  and  the  first  social  position,  is  there  no  longer 
known." 


44 


A  Bit  of  Lehigh  County  Indian  History. 

By  Alfred  F.  Berlin. 

Member  of  Archaeological  Association  oj  University  of  Penna.;  American 
Anthropological  Society,  Washington,  D.  C;  Wyomiag  Historical  and 
Geological  Society,  Wilkes-Barre;  Linnean  Society,  Lancaster,  Penna.; 
Royal  Italian  *  Didactic  Society,  Rorne^  Italy;  Lehigh  County  Histori- 
cal Society. 

One-half  mile  southwest  of  the  village  of  Ironton,  and  about 
six  miles  west  of  this  city,  is  to  be  found  a  copious  spring.  At 
this  place  once  lived  the  Shawano  Indian,  Kolapechka.  Of  him, 
more  as  we  proceed  with  this  paper. 

Around  this  spring  have  been  picked  up  many  stone  and 
flint  relics  of  Indian  manufacture,  such  as  spear  and  arrow  points, 
knives,  scrapers  and  other  implements,  evidences  of  an  Indian 
village  or  encampment. 

A  few  steps  from  this  fountain  is  still  to  be  seen  in  place 
a  part  of  the  rock  or  boulder,  about  one-half  of  it,  in  which  was 
once  the  mortar  used  by  the  aboriginal  people  to  grind  their 
corn,  for,  mind  you,  they  grew  this  grain  in  their  cultivated 
fields  not  far  from  here,  and  other  cereals  and  roots.  That  por- 
tion of  the  rock  which  contained  the  mortar  was  ruthlessly 
destroyed  a  number  of  years  ago  by  the  farmer  then  living  on 
the  property. 

Coplay  Creek,  now  a  small  stream,  meanders  near  by.  Along 
its  banks  are  also  found  the  evidences  of  aboriginal  occupation. 
This  stream  was  named  Coplay  in  honor  of  the  Shawano  Chief- 
tain, Kolapechka.  A  local  historian  of  note  appears,  however, 
to  think  differently.  On  page  300  of  his  work,  "History  of 
the  Lehigh  Valley,  etc.,"  M.  S.  Henry,  Easton,  Pa.,  i860,  in  a 
foot  note,  says:  "Coplay  is  the  name  of  a  creek  emptying  into 
the  Lehigh  River,  near  Catasauqua,  west.  The  proper  and  orig- 
inal name  for  the  stream  is  Copeichan,  which  is  an  Indian  word 
signifying  that  which  runs  evenly  or  a  smooth  running  stream." 
Not  a  word  does  he  mention  of  the  Shawano  Chieftain;  but  fur- 
ther on  in  his  very  interesting  book,  in  another  foot  note,  on 
page  303,  acknowledges  great  indebtedness  to  the  late  Joseph 
J.  Mickley,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  for  much  valuable  informa- 
tion of  this  Lehigh  county,  as  likewise  by  the  use  of  his  valuable 
library,  he  has  been  the  means  of  adding  many  items  of  an  inter- 
esting character  to  the  whole  publication. 


45 

Now,  in  Mr.  Mickley's  brief  account  of  the  murders  by  the 
Indians  in  Northampton  county,  Pa.,  page  24,  occurs  the  fol- 
lowing note:  "Coplay  is  a  corruption  from  Kolapechka,  which 
was  the  name  of  an  Indian,  the  son  of  a  Shawano  Chief,  named 
Paxanosa.  He  hved  at  the  head  of  the  creek  named  after  him, 
and  was  on  friendly  terms  with  the  white  inhabitants.  He  was 
an  honest  and  trustworthy  man.  Timothy  Horsfield,  Jr.,  em- 
ployed him  on  several  occasions  to  carry  messages  to  Governor 
Hamilton  at  Philadelphia."  Northampton  county,  in  which 
occurred  the  terrible  murders  spoken  of  by  Mr.  Mickley,  embraced 
at  this  time  about  all  the  land  now  contained  in  Northampton, 
Lehigh,  Carbon,  Monroe,  Pike,  Wayne  and  Susquehanna  coun^ 
ties,  and  also  small  parts  of  Bradford,  Wyoming,  Luzerne,  Schuyl- 
kill and  Columbia.  These  murders  were  caused  because  of  the 
outrageous  acts  of  the  whites  upon  the  Indians.  I  believe  it 
will  be  no  digression  to  tell  of  them  here. 

The  original  character  of  the  better  tribes  of  American 
Aborigines,  as  found  by  the  first  white  people  who  met  them 
and  substantiated  by  most  historical  accounts,  was  kind,  hos- 
pitable and  generous,  so  long  as  they  were  treated  with  justice 
and  humanity. 

Christopher  Columbus,  we  all  know  who  he  was,  wrote  of 
them  in  letters  to  his  king.  "There  are  not  a  better  people  in 
the  world  than  these,  more  affectionate,  affable  or  mild.  They 
love  their  neighbors  as  themselves."  The  navigator  spoke  for 
the  Southern  Indians,  who  were  already  an  agricultural  and  sta- 
tionary people.  Of  the  New  England  Red  people,  who  were 
a  part  of  the  great  Algonkin  nation,  to  which  belonged  the  Lenni 
Lenape  or  Delawares,  who  once  lived  in  this  Lehigh  county, 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Cushman,  in  a  sermon  delivered  in  Plymouth, 
Mass.,  in  1620,  says:  "The  Indians  are  said  to  be  the  most 
cruel  and  treacherous  people  in  all  those  parts,  even  like  lions; 
but  to  us  they  have  been  like  lambs,  so  kind,  so  submissive  and 
trusty,  as  a  man  may  truly  say,  many  Christians  are  not  so 
kind  and  sincere."  The  Moravian  missionary,  Heckewelder,  and 
no  man  knew  the  Indians  better  than  he,  passed  on  them  sim- 
ilar encomiums.  Las  Casas,  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men 
of  the  sixteenth  century,  and  the  Abbe  Clavigero  give  of  the 
Mexican  Indian  similar  testimony.  So  did  William  Penn.  Like- 
wise are  the  praises  from  other  historical  authorities.  Now,  we 
may  ask,  what  was  it  that  changed  these  kindly  and  hospitable 
people  into  brutes  and  savages,  who  committed  the  most  awful 
murders  regardless  of  age  or  sex?  The  story  is  easily  told.  The 
writer  will  mention  here  a  few  local  occurrences  which  he  has 
taken  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Heckewelder's  "Indian  Nations,"  an 
authoritative  work: 

"In  the  summer  of  1763  some  friendly  Indians  from  a  dis- 
tant place,  came  to  Bethlehem  to  exchange  their  furs  for  such 


46 

articles  as  were  most  needed  by  them.  Well  satisfied  with  their 
exchange  they  started  for  their  home.  The  first  night  they  put 
up  at  John  Stenton's  tavern,  distant  from  Bethlehem  about 
eight  miles  and  a  short  mile  north  of  the  present  Howertown, 
Northampton  county.  Stenton  not  being  at  home,  his  wife 
encouraged  those  who  came  there  to  drink,  to  abuse  the  Indians, 
adding,  'That  she  would  freely  give  a  gallon  of  rum  to  any  one 
of  them  that  would  kill  one  of  these  black  devils.'  They  were, 
however,  not  disturbed  by  the  whites,  but  upon  preparing  to 
depart  discovered  that  they  were  robbed  of  some  of  the  most 
valuable  articles  purchased  by  them.  Upon  complaining  of  their 
loss  to  a  man  who  appeared  to  be  the  barkeeper,  they  were  ordered 
to  leave  the  house.  A  few  of  them  returned  to  Bethlehem, 
where  they  made  complaint  before  a  magistrate.  This  officer 
gave  them  a  letter  to  the  tavernkeeper,  pressing  him  to  at  once 
restore  the  stolen  articles.  The  letter  was  delivered  and  they 
were  answered  that  if  they  valued  their  lives,  they  must  leave 
at  once,  which  they  did  without  the  property  belonging  to  them." 

Scarcely  had  these  Indians  left  when  in  another  place, 
about  fourteen  miles  distant  from  Stenton's,  was  committed 
another  outrage.  Loskiel  also  mentions  it  in  his  "History  of 
the  Missions  of  the  Indians  in  America,"  as  follows:  "In  August, 
1763,  Zachary  and  his  wife  who  had  left  the  congregation  in 
Wechquetank,  on  Head's  Creek,  north  of  the  Blue  Mountains, 
returned  on  a  visit.  A  woman,  called  Zippora,  was  persuaded 
to  follow  them.  On  their  return  they  stayed  at  the  Buchka- 
buchka  over  night  and  went  unconcerned  to  sleep  in  a  hay  loft. 
Buchkabuchka  is  the  Indian  word  which  the  Munseys,  Hecke- 
welder  informs  us,  had  for  the  Lehigh  Water  Gap.  The  word 
means:  Mountains  butting  opposite  each  other.  During  the 
night  the  Indian  lodgers  were  attacked  by  some  of  the  soldiers 
under  the  command  of  Captain  Wetterholt,  stationed  there. 
Zippora  was  thrown  down  upon  the  threshing  floor  and  killed. 
Zachary  escaped  out  of  the  house  but  was  pursued,  and  with 
his  wife  and  little  child,  put  to  the  sword,  although  the  mother 
begged  for  their  lives  upon  her  knees." 

One  Jonathan  Dodge,  a  worthless  villain,  a  lieutenant  in 
Captain  Nicholaus  Wetterholt's  company,  committed  many  atro- 
cious acts  against  the  Indians,  who  were  in  every  instance  friendly 
to  the  whites.  In  a  letter  to  Timothy  Horsfield,  bearing  date 
August  4th,  1763,  he  writes:  "Yesterday  there  were  four  Indians 
came  to  Ensign  Kern's.  I  took  four  rifles  and  fourteen  deer- 
skins from  them.  After  the  Indians  had  left,"  he  continues, 
"I  took  twenty  men  and  pursued  them,  then  I  ordered  my  men 
to  fire,  upon  which  I  fired  a  volley  on  them,  could  find  none 
dead  or  alive." 

One  more  instance:  This  same  cowardly  Dodge  and  one 
Jacob  Warner,  a  soldier  in  Wetterholt's  company,  while  search- 


47 

ing  for  a  gun,  when  about  two  miles  above  Fort  Allen,  now 
Weissport,  met  three  Indians  painted  black.  Dodge  killed  one 
of  them.  Warner  also  fired  and  states  that  he  thought  he  had 
wounded  another.  The  Indians  had  not  fired  upon  them,  as 
they  were  friendly.  These  are  only  a  few  of  the  many  dastardly 
outrages  committed  upon  the  natives  by  the  whites. 

We  will  now  note  the  result.  On  the  8th  of  October, 
1763,  burning  with  revenge,  a  number  of  Indians  consisting  of 
Delawares  and  Shawanos,  attacked  during  the  night,  the  Stenton 
tavern,  killing  its  proprietor,  John  Stenton,  and  Captain  Wetter- 
holt,  besides  several  soldiers.  After  this  most  deplorable  affair 
they  attacked  the  house  of  Andrew  Hazlet,  shot  him,  and  toma- 
hawked his  wife  and  two  children.  One  of  the  little  ones  recov- 
ered. Twelve  Indians  then  proceeded  toward  the  Lehigh  River, 
crossing  a  short  distance  above  Siegfried's  bridge,  known  to  this 
day  as  the  "Indian  Fall"  or  "Rapids."  They  first  reached  the 
^  farm  of  Jacob  Mickley  and  there  killed  two  children,  a  boy  and  a 
girl.  From  there  they  went  to  the  house  of  John  Schneider 
and  killed  him,  his  wife  and  three  children.  In  this  awful  fora}^ 
were  murdered,  we  are  told,  twenty-three  people,  many  of  them 
innocent,  besides  many  dangerously  wounded,  and  much  other 
property  destroyed  by  fire.  Laden  with  plunder  the  Indians 
then  struck  for  the  wilderness,  north  of  the  Blue  Mountains, 
from  whence  they  had  come. 

Timothy  Horsfield,  Jr.,  noted  several  times  by  the  writer, 
was  born  in  Liverpool,  England,  in  April,  1708.  He  came  to 
America  and  settled  first  on  Long  Island  in  1725.  He  then  moved 
to  Bethlehem  in  1749.  At  Bethlehem  at  this  time  he  was  chief 
assistant  in  the  apothecary  shop  of  Dr.  John  Matthew  Otto, 
at  that  time  known  as  an  eminent  physician  and  surgeon.  In 
May,  1752,  he  was  appointed  a  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Northamp- 
ton county;  was  commissioned  Lieutenant  and  Colonel,  and  as 
such  superintended  and  directed  the  two  military  companies 
commanded  by  the  two  Captains  Wetterholt,  which  were  rang- 
ing along  the  frontier.  To  him  were  forwarded  their  reports 
and  he  corresponded  with  the  then  Governor  Hamilton  at  Phila- 
delphia. He  resigned  his  offices  in  December,  1763,  and  died 
at  Bethlehem,  March  9th,  1773.  His  remains  lie  buried  in  the 
old  and  interesting  Moravian  burying  ground,  and  the  house 
somewhat  modernized  in  which  he  lived,  can  still  be  seen  at  No. 
49  Market  street,  only  a  short  distance  from  his  grave.  In  this 
house,  a  two-story  building,  built  in  1749,  was  opened  in  1753 
at  the  west  end,  the  first  general  store  and  trading  place  in  the 
Lehigh  Valley.  This  part  of  the  house  was  demolished  in  1879. 
A  metal  tablet  fastened  into  the  Market  street  wall  during  the 
sesqui-centennial  celebration  held  at  Bethlehem  in  1892,  gives 
us  this  interesting  information.  Mr.  Horsfield  was  at  that  time 
a  great  service  to  the  government,  as  well  as  to  the  frontier 
inhabitants. 


48 

The  frontier  at  this  time  extended  along  and  a  short  dis- 
tance beyond  the  line  of  the  Blue  Ridge,  from  Fort  Hunter  on 
the  east  bank  of  the  Susquehanna  River,  a  few  miles  above 
Harrisburg  to  Dupui's  Fort  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Delaware 
River,  near  Delaware  Water  Gap.  This  mountain  range  prac- 
tically marked  the  limit  of  actual  settlement  by  the  white  people. 
Kolapechka  and  his  father,  Paxnas  or  Paxsinosa,  belonged 
to  that  migratory  and  restless  tribe  of  Indians,  often  called 
Shawnees,  but  the  right  name  of  which  is  Shawanoes.  They 
were  known  as  the  most  depraved  and  ferocious  tribe  of  all  the 
Indian  nations,  and  were  continually  at  war  with  their  neigh- 
bors. They  were  one  of  the  most  important  of  the  Algonguian 
tribes.  Their  most  noted  chief  was  the  great  Tecumtha.  Their 
earliest  historical  home  appears  to  have  been  on  the  middle 
Savannah  River.  About  the  year  1692  most  of  those  remain- 
ing in  South  Carolina  moved  northward  and  settled  upon  the 
upper  Delaware  River  with  their  relatives  and  friends,  the  Lenni 
Lenapes  and  Mohicans. 

Paxnas,  the  father,  was,  so  says  the  missionary  Hecke- 
welder,  a  chief  of  prominence. 

The  Moravian  missionaries  knew  that  the  Shawano  Indians 
were  a  fierce  people,  and  because  of  this,  sought  to  gain  their 
friendship,  so  as  not  to  be  molested,  when  passing  from  one 
Indian  mission  to  another.  After  the  death  of  Shehellemus,  the 
friend  of  the  whites,  who  died  in  Shamokin  in  1749,  the  mission- 
aries were  fortunate  in  gaining  the  friendship  of  Paxnas,  who 
proved  this  by  sending  his  sons  to  escort  a  missionary  to  Beth- 
lehem from  Shamokin,  where  he  was  in  the  most  perilous  sit- 
uation, the  French  and  Indian  War  having  just  broke  out. 

Shehellmus  or  Shekellamy  was  so  prominent  a  figure  at 
this  time  that  it  appears  necessary  to  tell  my  hearers  who  he 
was.  He  and  Conrad  Weiser  were  constant  companions,  and 
were  connected  with  nearly  every  important  transaction  between 
the  government  and  the  Indians.  This  Indian  Chief  was  ap- 
pointed by  the  Five  Nations,  or  the  Iroquois  in  1728  to  preside 
over  the  Shawanoes,  for  whom  Manangy,  the  king  of  the  Schuyl- 
kill Indians,  obtained  permission  from  the  governor  to  live  on 
the  Tulpehocken,  a  large  creek  which  empties  a  short  distance 
north  of  Reading,  from  the  west  into  the  Schuylkill  River.  In 
1732  a  party  of  Indians  visited  the  Governor  and  suggested  the 
propriety  of  appointing  Shekellamy  with  Weiser,  who  "shall 
travel  between  you  and  us,  who  will  speak  our  minds  and  your 
minds  to  each  other  truly  and  freely."  This  admirable  sugges- 
tion was  agreed  to  by  the  Governor,  and  they  were  at  once  ap- 
pointed. It  is  written  that  they  performed  more  diplomatic 
work  than  any  two  other  men  of  their  time.  They  met  the 
council  for  deliberation,  and  were  sent  as  ambassadors  to  the 
different  tribes.     When  dissentions  arose  they  were  the  peace- 


49 

makers.  They  were  everywhere  respected  for  their  wisdom  in 
council,  for  dignity  of  manners  and  honesty  in  the  administra- 
tion of  pubhc  affairs. 

To  again  resume  as  to  the  name  Coplay.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
J.  H.  Dubbs  says  in  a  letter  to  the  writer,  that  "  Mr.  Mickley  was 
a  historical  authority  of  eminence  and  was  thoroughly  familiar 
with  the  locality.  I  may  add,  however,  that  in  the  days  of 
my  boyhood,  the  fact  that  'Coplay'  had  resided  at  the  place 
indicated  was  never  called  in  question  in  the  vicintiy  of  Iron- 
ton."  Both  Mr.  Mickley  and  Prof.  Dubbs  were  born  and  raised 
in  the  neighborhood.  In  the  "Genealogical  History  of  the  Race 
of  Balyard,"  by  a  descendant,  Dr.  L.  B.  Balliet,  now  a  resident 
of  the  city,  in  his  preface  to  the  book  is  found  the  following: 
"I  am  indebted  to  old  Aunty  Coplay  for  reliable  information 
relating  to  our  family  prior  to  her  time.  She  was  called  by  that 
name  from  the  circumstances  that  the  place  on  which  she  lived 
was  the  home  of  an  old  Indian  Chief,  named  'Coplay,'  at  the 
time  our  forefathers  located  this  tract  about  the  middle  of  the 
eighteenth  century." 

An  original  warrant  now  in  possession  of  The  Lehigh  Port- 
land Cement  Company,  gave  by  patent  from  James  Hamilton, 
then  Governor  of  Pennsylvania,  per  John  and  Richard  Penn, 
the  proprietaries,  to  Adam  Deshler,  dated  May  5th,  1751  (Patent 
Book,  Phila.,  Pa.,  A.  Vol.  15,  page  593),  three  tracts  of  land 
situate  near  the  west  branch  of  the  Delaware  River — the  Lehigh 
River — on  or  near  Indian  Copelin's  Creek,  containing  301^4-  acres. 
One  of  the  boundaries  contained  in  the  description  of  one  of 
the  tracts  containing  200  acres  is  the  middle  of  Indian  Cope- 
lin's Creek. 

For  this  very  interesting  and  valuable  information  the  writer 
is  indebted  to  Judge  Frank  M.  Trexler,  a  member  of  our  society, 
who  saw  the  original  warrant.  Nowhere  do  we  find  any  author- 
ity that  the  creek  was  ever  called  "Copiechan,"  but  abundant 
evidence,  as  you  have  heard  this  afternoon,  that  it  was  named 
after  Kolapechka,  or  as  Dr.  Balliet  appears  to  think,  Kolapecha. 

The  supposition  is  that  the  name  "Copiechan"  was  invented 
about  fifty  years  ago  by  gentlemen  living  near  the  present  vil- 
lage of  Coplay,  assisted  by  antiquarians  from  Philadelphia,  who 
knew  nothing  of  the  real  origin  of  the  name,  and  who,  having 
discovered  in  the  Indian  vocabulary  that  "Copiechan"  meant 
"a  smooth  or  fine  running  stream,"  took  it  for  granted  without 
any  investigation,  that  the  latter  must  be  the  original  form. 
This  would  not  be  the  first  occurrence  when  Indian  names  were 
manufactured  to  order.  This  then  settles  the  matter  as  to  the. 
origin  of  the  word  "Coplay." 


Sketches  of  Some  Settlers  in   Lehigh 
County  Prior  to  1750. 

By  Chas.  R.  Roberts. 


UPPER    AND   LOWER    MILFORD   TOWNSHIPS. 

This  was  probably  the  first  settled  section  of  what  is  now 
Lehigh  county,  and  in  these  short  sketches  of  pioneer  settlers 
of  our  county  shall  receive  first  notice. 

In  the  first  ship  recorded  by  the  Provincial  Government, 
which  brought  about  four  hundred  Germans  to  Philadelphia, 
on  September  i8,  1727,  appears  the  name  of  Alexander  Diefen- 
derfer,  a  native  of  Nehrisheim.  He  took  up  150  acres  of  land, 
then  in  Bucks  county,  now  partly  in  Bucks  and  partly  in  Lehigh 
counties.  His  name  appears  in  a  list  of  the  members  of  the 
Great  Swamp  Church,  written  in  1736.  He  was  naturalized  in 
September,  1740.  He  died  November  29,  1768,  leaving  a  widow 
and  five  children:  Anna  Margaret,  wife  of  John  Nicholas  Oehl, 
Godfrey  (b.  1730,  d.  1806),  Gertrude,  wife  of  Henry  Miller,  Alex- 
ander and  John. 

Joseph  Kberhard  came  in  1727  from  Switzerland  and  became 
one  of  the  most  prominent  residents  of  this  section.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Great  Swamp  Reformed  congregation,  and  died 
in  1760,  leaving  to  his  six  sons  all  his  real  estate,  amounting 
to  1065  acres. 

Henrich  Wilhelm  Dillinger  arrived  at  Philadelphia  on  Aug- 
ust 24,  1728.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  original  Luth- 
eran congregation  of  Upper  Milford  township  near  the  present 
Dillingersville,  which  has  been  extinct  for  over  a  hundred  years. 
He  died  between  1765  and  1770.  His  wife,  Anna  Rosina,  died 
in  February,  1761,  and  was  buried  February  22,  1761.  He  had 
seven  children:  Valentine,  John  George,  John  Jacob,  Johannes, 
Anna  Catharina,  wife  of  Mathias  Bastian,  Anna  Elizabeth,  wife 
of  George  Welter  and  Anna  Mary,  wife  of  John  Martin  Schwenk. 

Theobald  Mechlin  landed  on  September  11,  1728.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church,  and  owned  a  large  tract  of 


51 

land.  He  died  in  April,  1765,  and  left  five  sons,  Theobald, 
Peter,  Jacob,  Philip  and  Thomas,  and  one  daughter,  EHzabeth, 
wife  of  Leonard  Steininger,  of  Whitehall  township.  The  finely- 
located  homestead  and  farm  is  still  owned  by  his  descendants. 

Frantz  Russ  and  Ulrich  Rieser  arrived  at  Philadelphia  on 
September  19,  1732.  In  1754  Russ  lived  in  Upper  Saucon  town- 
ship, and  in  1749  bought  a  grist  mill  in  Upper  Milford  which 
was  erected  by  Peter  Wentz  in  1740,  the  first  grist  mill  in  the 
county.  He  sold  the  mill  and  48  acres  of  land  in  1761  to  his 
son  Kilian  Russ,  and  in  1763  sold  the  other  part  of  his  land, 
28I  acres,  to  his  son  Frantz,  Jr.  Frantz  Russ  and  Ulrich  Rieser 
were  both  members  of  the  Great  Swamp  Reformed  congrega- 
tion. 

Ulrich  Rieser  owned  a  tract  of  269  acres  in  the  present  Krauss- 
dale,  or  Hosensack  valley.  He  was  born  April  8,  1709,  and  died 
September  9,  1784.  His  wife,  Barbara  Rieser,  was  born  April 
I,  1 7 14,  and  died  April  7,  1782.  They  are  buried  in  the  Great 
Swamp  churchyard. 

Jacob  Dubs,  a  son  of  Jacob  Dubs  and  wife  Anna  Glaettli, 
was  born  in  the  village  of  Aesch,  parish  of  Birmensdorf,  Switzer- 
land, on  August  31,  1 7 10,  and  arrived  at  Philadelphia  Septem- 
ber 30,  1 732.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Great  Swamp  Reformed 
congregation,  and  married  Veronica  Welker.  They  had  five  chil- 
dren: Felix,  Barbara,  married  Daniel  Boyer,  who  moved  west, 
Margaretha,  who  became  the  second  wife  of  Jacob  Dillinger, 
Daniel,  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Jacob  Haak,  of  Berks  county. 

Michael  Flores  emigrated  from  Germany  about  the  year  1 740, 
and  settled  near  the  present  village  of  Dillingersville.  He  was 
a  member  of  the  original  Lutheran  congregation  at  that  place. 
He  died  in  1785,  leaving  one  son,  Michael,  and  four  daughters. 

Peter  Lynn  arrived  at  Philadelphia  September  26,  1737. 
He  married  Anna  Margaret,  daughter  of  Felix  Brunner,  and  as 
early  as  1740  lived  in  Upper  Milford.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Great  Swamp  Reformed  congregation,  and  died  prior  to  1768. 
His  eldest  son  was  Dr.  Felix  Lynn,  one  of  the  earliest  doctors 
in  the  county.  Among  his  other  children  were,  Peter  Lynn, 
Elizabeth,  John,  Anna  Maria,  wife  of  John  Adam  Willauer,  and 
Theobald  or  Dewalt  Lynn. 

UPPER   AND   LOWER   SAUCON   TOWNSHIPS. 

When  Lehigh  county  was  still  a  part  of  old  Northampton, 
these  townships  constituted  a  single  township  called  Upper  Sau- 
con, which  was  settled  early  by  English,  Welsh  and  Germans. 


52 

0avid  Owen  was  an  early  settler  here.  He  was  a  son  of  Owen 
Owen,  who  was  sheriff  of  Philadelphia  county  in  1728  and  cor- 
oner in  1730.  In  1748  David  Owen  opened  a  tavern  in  a  small 
stone  building  which  still  stands.  He  also  owned  a  hat  factory 
and  a  saw  mill.  In  1752  his  name  appears  as  one  of  the  viewers 
of  a  new  road.  He  had  six  children:  David,  Joseph,  Nathan, 
Mary,  Lydia  and  Elizabeth. 

Balthazer  Beil  landed  at  Philadelphia  September  26,  1737. 
He  settled  in  Upper  Saucon  township,  but  later  removed  to  Allen 
township,  now  Northampton  county,  where  he  died  in  1791. 
Among  his  children  were:  Eva  Elizabeth  Beil,  born  November 
4,  1740;  John  Beil,  born  February  26,  1746,  died  February  18, 
1826;  William  Beil,  born  November  18,  1747;  Anna  Maria  Beil, 
born  February  12,  1750;  and  Henry  Beil,  born  February  9,  1752, 
and  died  December  10,  1834. 

Philip  Geisinger,  a  Mennonite,  removed  to  Upper  Saucon 
from  Berks  county.  He  was  born  June  22,  1701,  and  died  July 
31,  1 791.  His  wife,  Mary,  was  born  in  171 1,  and  died  March 
29,  1772.  They  are  buried  in  the  Mennonite  cemetery  near 
Centre  Valley. 

George  Bachman,  a  Mennonite,  was  born  in  1686,  and  died 
November  9,  1753.  About  1750  he  kept  a  tavern  called  the 
"Seven  Star,"  where  Coopersburg  now  stands.  His  wife,  Mary 
Bachman,  was  born  April  12,  1698,  and  died  November  4,  1776. 
They  had  seven  sons  and  four  daughters. 

UPPER    AND   LOWER    MACUNGIE    TOWNSHIPS. 

Peter  Trexler  is  said  to  have  come  to  Macungie  from  Oley 
township,  Berks  county,  about  1723,  and  is  supposed  to  have 
been  the  first  white  settler  of  Macungie  township.  Caspar  Wistar 
and  wife  deeded  to  him  a  tract  of  238!  acres  in  the  township, 
on  November  18,  1729.  On  November  29,  1748,  Peter  Trexler 
and  Katherine,  his  wife,  deeded  part  of  this  tract  to  their  son 
Peter  for  ^^145.     In  1762  Peter  Trexler,  Sen.,  was  taxed  ^60. 

Jeremiah  Trexler  kept  a  tavern  here  in  1732,  as  is  mentioned 
in  the  Colonial  Records,  when  the  Kings'  high  road  from  Phila- 
delphia was  laid  out.  His  wife's  name  was  Mary  Catharine. 
Their  son,  John  Peter  Trexler,  was  married  to  Mary  Catharine 
Albrecht,  daughter  of  Joseph  Albrecht. 

Joseph  Albrecht  purchased  212  acres  from  William  Reily 
and  wife,  of  Newtown,  clockmaker,  on  June  30,  1743.  There 
is  a  Joseph  Albrecht  mentioned  as  arriving  at  Philadelphia  on 
September    18,    1727.     He  died   about    1760,   leaving  a   widow, 


53 

Katharine,  and  these  children:  Joseph,  John,  and  Katharine, 
wife  of  Peter  Trexler.  Also  three  children  by  a  former  marriage, 
Barbara,  wife  of  Jacob  Schnerr,  of  Whitehall  township,  Mary, 
wife  of  Samuel  Best,  shoemaker,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Mary, 
wife  of  Richard  McColey,  wigmaker,  of  Philadelphia.  The  land 
was  sold  by  the  heirs  on  February  i6,  1761,  to  Peter  Butz,  of 
Berks  county,  for  ^^476. 

Another  early  settler  and  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Lehigh 
church  was  John  Michael  Knappenberger.  In  1744  he  was  liv- 
ing in  the  upper  part  of  Montgomery  county,  but  soon  removed 
to  Macungie,  where  he  died.  He  was  born  August  20,  1709, 
and  died  June  13,  1751.  He  married  Catharine  Leyde,  and 
left  five  children,  among  them,  Henry,  born  September  19,  1744, 
George,  born  October  20,  1746,  and  Catharine  Margaret,  born 
October  23,  1750. 

John  Jarret,  an  early  settler  in  Macungie  township,  died  in 
1755,  leaving  a  tract  of  land  of  514  acres,  valued  at  twelve  hun- 
dred pounds.  He  had  thirteen  children:  John,  Edward,  Isaac, 
Samuel,  Philip,  William,  Sebastian,  Daniel,  Mary,  wife  of  Adam 
Everly,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Daniel  Dorney,  Joan,  wife  of  John 
Wetzel,  Margaret,  wife  of  Frederick  Shackler,  and  Sarah,  wife 
of  Martin  Spiegel. 

John  Mathias  Eigener,  or  Eichener,  arrived  at  Philadelphia 
on  September  30,  1727.  He  and  his  wife  Anna  Elizabeth,  were 
sponsors  in  1750  to  a  child  baptized  at  the  Lehigh  church.  He 
was  born  in  1693.  and  died  June  21,  1771,  aged  78  years,  and 
was  buried  at  the  Lehigh  church.  Rev.  John  Caspar  Stoever 
baptized  two  of  his  children  John,  born  June  15,  baptized  August 
5,  1733,  and  Mathias,  born  June  29,  baptized  in  October,  1735. 

Peter  Matern  arrived  at  Philadelphia  on  September  26,  1732. 
A  son,  John  Peter,  was  baptized  in  1743  ^t  what  was  called  the 
"Six  Cornered"  church,  in  Upper  Hanover  Township,  Montgom- 
ery county.  His  wife,  Mary  Catharine,  died  September  10,  1758, 
aged  56  years  and  7  months. 

Lewis  Klotz  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  colonial  resi- 
dents in  Macungie  township.  As  early  as  1745  he  was  attached 
to  the  Moravians,  and  for  many  years  was  one  of  his  Majesty's 
Justices  of  the  Peace.  His  children  were  placed  at  Moravian 
schools.  Jasper  Payne,  accountant  for  the  "Bethlehem  Econ- 
omy," recorded  the  following  items:  "August  11,  1746;  Lewis 
Klotz's  child  died  at  Herzer's  last  Tuesday  was  seven  night, 
being  the  5th  of  August;"  and  "May  24,  1747:  Received  of 
Lewis  Klotz  towards  paying  of  his  childrens'  ward  and  schooling: 


54 


£  s.     d. 

3  cows 9 

2  calves lo 

I  mare  and  a  little  colt  with  a 

bell  on  the  mare 7  o     o 

I  cow  bell 5 


16     15     o 

WEISENBERG   TOWNSHIP. 

John  Egidius  Grimm  arrived  at  Philadelphia  on  September 
II,  1728.  He  and  his  wife,  Anna  Catharine,  were  sponsors  in 
1742  at  the  Weisenberg  church.  He  died  about  1761.  His  chil- 
dren were:  Jacob,  Henry,  Anna  Margaret,  born  July  22,  1727, 
died  November  22,  1746,  married  Frantz  Wilhelm  Roth,  Cath- 
arine, wife  of  Peter  Merkel,  and  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Caspar  Merkel, 
of  Richmond  township,  Berks  county. 

LOWHILI^   TOWNSHIP. 

On  September  23,  1732,  there  landed  at  Philadelphia,  Michael 
Mosser,  aged  38,  Tobias  Mosser,  aged  30,  George  Mosser,  aged 
48,  Leonard  and  Paul  Mosser,  Eva  Mosser,  aged  40,  Eva  Bar- 
bara Mosser,  aged  56,  Christina  Mosser,  aged  24,  Magdalena 
Mosser,  aged  28,  Susanna  Barbara  Mosser,  aged  40,  and  Mag- 
dalena Mosser,  aged  52,  with  children  as  follows:  Appolonia, 
aged  II,  Hanna  Margaret,  12,  Anna  Mary,  10,  Anna  Margaret,  8, 
Simon,  11,  Bastian,  6,  and  John  George,  8. 

Michael  Mosser  and  wife  Anna  Elizabeth  were  sponsors  in 
i739»  i74i>  s-iid  1742,  in  Upper  Saucon  to  children  of  Michael 
and  Anna  Barbara  Schmidt.  Tobias  Mosser  and  Margaret,  his 
wife,  had  a  son  John,  born  May  24,  baptized  June  14,  1741. 
Another  son,  Tobias,  was  born  May  24,  1743.  He  married 
Christina  Maurer,  and  died  in  1800,  leaving  two  sons  and  seven 
daughters. 

In  1762  Michael  Mosser  was  assessed  for  150  acres  in  Low- 
hill  township,  and  the  widow  of  Tobias  Mosser  was  taxed  twelve 
pounds.  In  April,  1757,  David  Schultz,  the  noted  surveyor  of 
Montgomery  county,  wrote  in  his  almanac,  "Der  Tobias  Moser 
am  Jordan  is  auch  gestorben." 

HEIDELBERG   TOWNSHIP. 

Caspar  Peter,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  was  an  early  settler 
in  Heidelberg  Township.  He  was  married  to  Anna  Elizabeth 
Ribsam,  who  was  born  March  15,  1724,  and  died  July  26,  1795. 
They  had  three  children.  One  son  was  Caspar,  born  in  1753, 
and  died  June  28,  181 1. 


55 

Rudolph  Peter,  a  brother  of  Caspar,  Senior,  and  wife  Anna 
Magdalena,  were  sponsors  in  1753  to  Mary  Magdalena,  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  EHzabeth  Peter,  another  brother  of  Caspar,  Senior, 
Rudolph  Peter  died  about  1777.  He  had  four  children,  William, 
Ulrich,  Henry  and  Adam,  each  of  whom  received  £'js,  i6s.,  5d. 
as  their  share  of  his  estate.  William,  the  eldest  son,  purchased 
the  land. 

Michael  Ohl  was  born  June  26,  1729,  and  died  July  4,  1804. 
His  wife  was  named  Elizabeth  Barbara,  and  they  had  ten  chil- 
dren, three  sons  and  seven  daughters.  He  was  assessed  for  300 
acres  in  Heidelberg  township  in  1762. 

George  Rex  was  an  early  .settler  in  Heidelberg,  where  he 
was  a  large  land  owner.  He  died  about  1773,  leaving  a  widow 
and  eight  children.  He  owned  a  tract  of  519  acres,  valued  at 
^1107,  los.,  which  the  eldest  son,  William  Rex,  accepted  on 
June  24,  1773.  Bernhard  Jacob  Rex,  one  of  the  sons  of  George 
Rex,  was  born  April  5,  1724,  married  May  16,  1746,  Anna  Eliza- 
beth Orner,  and  died  April  24,  1802.  He  had  eleven  children. 
Among  the  other  children  of  George  Rex  were  Daniel,  Catharine 
and  Salome. 

SALISBURY    TOWNSHIP. 

Solomon  Jennings  was  a  very  early  settler  in  Salisbury  town- 
ship. By  virtue  of  a  warrant  dated  March  5,  1736,  and  the  pay- 
ment of  ^11,  13s.,  4d.,  there  was  surveyed  for  him  a  tract  of 
200  acres  on  the  Lehigh  river.  In  1737  he  was  chosen  one  of 
the  walkers  in  the  famous  walking  purchase,  and  a  note  in  the 
Pennsylvania  Journals,  Manuscript  Book  in  the  Penn  papers, 
says:  "He  is  to  pay  no  purchase  money,  the  Proprietors  hav- 
ing given  him  this  land  in  recompense  of  his  services."  He  died 
February  15,  1757,  and  was  buried  on  his  farm.  He  was  called 
"Der  Starke,"  or  "The  Strong  Man,"  among  the  Germans.  He 
had  two  sons,  John  and  Isaac,  and  one  daughter,  who  married 
Nicholas  Scull. 

John  Jennings  was  sheriff  of  Northampton  county  from  1762 
to  1768.  In  1762  he  was  the  largest  taxpayer  in  Salisbury  town- 
ship, being  taxed  £^6.  By  deed  of  June  i,  1764,  the  Jennings 
farm  was  sold  to  Jacob  Geisinger,  of  Saucon  township  for  ;^i500, 
Pennsylvania  currency. 

Henry  Roth,  born  June  16,  1688,  arrived  at  Philadelphia 
August  17,  1733,  at  the  age  of  45  years,  with  his  wife  Catherine, 
aged  40,  and  children,  Anna  Eve,  aged  13,  William,  aged  12, 
and  Catharine,  aged  9.  By  a  warrant  dated  September  28, 
1738,  he  secured  300  acres  of  land  in  Salisbury  township.  On 
December  15,  1743,  with  John  Martin  Bamberger,  he  gave  a 
deed  for  the  land  on  which  the  Salzburg  church  is  built.  By 
warrants  dated  May  19,   1747,  and  June  17,   1754,  he  took  up 


56 

more  land,  making  a  total  of  368  acres.  His  son,  Frantz  Wil- 
helm  Roth,  was  born  December  19,  1721,  and  died  December 
28,  1757,  after  an  illness  of  a  few  hours.  He  was  married  to 
Anna  Margaret  Grim,  daughter  of  Egidius  Grim,  born  July  22, 
1727,  died  November  22,  1746.  They  had  one  son,  Frantz  Roth. 
His  second  wife,  Elizabeth,  died  in  1776,  and  had  one  son,  Henry 
Roth,  who  removed  to  Virginia,  and  four  daughters,  Mary  Mag- 
dalena,  wife  of  George  Frederick  Knauss,  Elizabeth,  wife  of 
Abraham  Seider,  Margaret  and  Catherine. 

Adam  Blank  settled  in  Salisbury  at  an  early  date.  He 
died  about  1764.  His  widow,  Margaret,  died  in  February,  1770, 
aged  65  years.  Their  children  were:  Christopher,  George, 
George  Adam,  John,  Anna  Margaret,  Catharine  and  Anna  Eliza- 
beth. George  Adam  Blank,  the  son,  was  taxed  for  300  acres 
of  land  in  1764. 

Sebastian  Henry  Knauss  settled  in  Salisbury  in  1741.  He 
was  born  October  6,  1714,  in  the  village  of  Titelsheim,  Germany, 
the  son  of  Ludwig  Knaus,  a  farmer  of  the  Reformed  religion, 
and  his  wife  Anna  Margaret  Goerlach.  He  came  to  America  in 
1723  with  his  parents,  who  settled  in  Whitemarsh  township, 
now  Montgomery  county,  where  Ludwig  Knaus  was  a  deacon 
of  the  Whitemarsh  Reformed  church  as  early  as  1728.  He  married 
January  i,  1741,  Anna  Catharina  Transeau,  and  died  February 
26,  1777.     He  had  thirteen  children. 

John  Henry  Knauss,  brother  of  the  above,  was  born  June 
15,  1712,  and  died  June  6,  1761.  He  married  December  31, 
1737,  Anna  Catharina  Roeder.  He  had  four  children,  of  whom 
only  one  survived,  Michael,  born  July  26,  1743.  These  two 
brothers  were  reared  in  the  Reformed  faith,  but  in  later  years 
became  members  of  the  Moravian  church  and  founders  of  the 
town  of  Emaus. 

HANOVER    TOWNSHIP. 

Charles  Ludwig  Keiper,  born  December  15,  1737,  died  Sep- 
tember 9,  1 815,  settled  in  what  is  now  Hanover  township.  He 
was  the  son  of  Charles  Ludwig  Keiper,  who  owned  a  tract  of 
250  acres  in  Milford  township,  valued  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
in  1753,  ^t  iJsoo,  which  Michael  Keiper,  the  eldest  son,  purchased. 
Other  children  of  the  senior  Keiper  were  Catharine,  wife  of  Michael 
Aller,  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Daniel  Aller,  and  Mary,  wife  of  Christ- 
opher Aller.  Charles  Ludwig  Keiper,  Jr.,  married  Catharine  Orr, 
who  was  born  March  12,  1737,  and  died  September  17,  181 8. 

WHITEHALL   TOWNSHIP. 

Jacob  Kohler,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  is  supposed  to  have 
settled  in  Whitehall  township  prior  to  the  year  1730,  and  took 
up  a  warrant  for  150  acres  of  land  on  July  i,  1734.     About  1755 


57 

he  built  the  first  grist  mill  in  this  section.  He  was  naturalized 
April  lo,  1 761.  The  date  of  his  death  is  not  known,  but  he  was 
still  living  in  1767.  He  had  ten  children,  two  sons  and  eight 
daughters.  The  eldest  son,  Peter  Kohler,  became  the  owner  of 
the  mill  property.  He  was  appointed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Assem- 
bly, on  December  16,  1777,  one  of  the  persons  to  take  subscrip- 
tions of  the  Continental  loan  in  Northampton  county;  was  com- 
missioned one  of  the  Justices  for  Northampton  county  on  May 
28,  1779,  and  was  elected  to  the  Assembly  in  1780,  1781  and 
1782.     He  died  September  27,  1793. 

Nicholas  Kern  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Whitehall 
township,  where  he  had  taken  up  land  under  date  of  December 
3,  1735,  February  24,  1737,  and  October  28,  1737,  for  300  acres, 
which  he  sold,  February  27,  1739,  to  Lawrence  Guth.  A  Nich- 
olas Kern  landed  at  Philadelphia  October  2,  1727,  and  Septem- 
ber 21,  1732,  there  is  also  one  of  the  same  name  recorded.  One 
of  these  was  the  Kern  of  Whitehall  township.  Nicholas  Kern 
and  wife  Mary  Margaret  were  sponsors  at  Egypt  church  in  the 
years  1734,  1736,  1739,  1740  and  1741.  He  took  up  large  tracts 
of  land  in  1737  and  1738,  amounting  to  five  hundred  acres  where 
Slatington  is  now  located,  where  he  later  removed  and  died  in 
1748,  leaving  seven  children,  William,  John,  Cornelia,  who  mar- 
ried Martin  Singling,  Frederick,  Nicholas,  Henry  and  George. 
William  Kern  was  born  in  1725  and  died  August  18,  1800.  He 
is  buried  in  the  old  graveyard  at  Unionville  church.  He  was 
of  a  jovial  disposition,  and  was  called  "der  trockener  Kern." 
This  became  corrupted  into  "Trucker,"  and  Benjamin  Franklin, 
in  his  report  to  Governor  Morris  in  January,  1756,  states  that 
he  procured  boards  and  timber  for  the  building  of  Fort  Allen, 
at  Weissport,  from  "Trucker's  Saw  Mill." 

Peter  Troxell,  or  Drachsell,  and  wife  JuHana  Catharine, 
natives  of  Switzerland,  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  with  two  sons, 
Peter  and  Daniel,  on  August  17,  1733.  He  settled  at  Egypt, 
but  a  few  years  later  removed  a  few  miles  westward,  near  where 
the  Iron  Bridge  of  the  C.  &  F.  R.  R.  is  located.  Here  he  took 
up  large  tracts  of  land,  some  of  which  is  still  owned  by  his  descend- 
ants. He  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  men  in  Whitehall 
township  in  colonial  times  and  was  an  active  member  of  the 
Egypt  Reformed  and  later  of  the  Jordan  Reformed  church. 

Ulrich  Flickinger  landed  at  Philadelphia  August  17,  1733. 
with  Peter  Troxell  and  others,  at  the  age  of  forty.  He  took  up 
a  warrant  for  160  acres  of  land  along  Mill  Creek  on  January  19, 
1743,  and  October  24,  1752,  another  for  142  acres.  His  wife 
Lucia,  died  April  23,  1772,  aged  70  years.  He  died  in  1792, 
leaving  three  sons,  Jacob,  George  and  Peter,  and  two  daughters, 
Mrs.  Henry  Heffelfinger  and  Mrs.  John  Reese. 

On  August  28,  1733,  in  the  ship  Hope,  of  London,  Daniel 
Ried,  master,  there  arrived  at  Philadelphia,  among  others,  Daniel 


58 

and  Anna  Margaret  Roth,  John  Jacob  and  Anna  Schreiber, 
John  Jacob  Mickley,  and  one  who  signed  himself,  Hannes  Jerg 
Kohler,  with  his  wife,  Mary.  Jerg  is  the  German  equivalent 
for  George,  hence  this  apparently  could  not  have  been  the  pioneer 
of  Egypt,  whose  name  was  John  Jacob  Kohler. 

Daniel  Roth  was  a  native  of  Switzerland,  and  applied  for  a 
warrant  for  1 50  acres  of  land  situated  on  both  sides  of  the  Jordan 
creek,  including  the  site  of  the  present  village  of  Sherersville, 
or  Ringers  Post  Office.  Before  the  warrant  was  issued,  he  died, 
in  April,  1737,  in  the  same  hour  in  which  his  son  Peter  was  born, 
according  to  a  record  left  by  this  son.  The  warrant  was  dated 
May  25,  1737,  and  the  land  was  surveyed  November  10,  1737, 
in  the  language  of  the  warrant,  "unto  Grace  Rhode,  widow  of 
said  Daniel,  the  land  situated  near  Maxatawny,  in  the  countv 
of  Bucks." 

The  widow,  Anna  Margaret  Roth,  died  February  25,  1757. 
Two  sons  survived,  Daniel  and  Peter.  Daniel  was  born  in 
Switzerland  in  1724  and  died  February  22,  181 7.  He  owned  a 
large  tract  of  land  in  what  is  now  South  Whitehall  township, 
and  had  a  large  family.  One  of  his  sons,  Daniel,  only  a  boy  of 
about  17  years,  was  impressed  into  service  by  some  of  the  Con- 
tinental soldiers  during  his  father's  absence  from  home.  The 
father  was  very  angry  upon  his  return,  and  learning  the  name 
of  the  leader  of  the  party,  a  well-known  resident  of  Whitehall, 
is  reported  to  have  said  that  he  believed  it  would  not  be  a  sin 
if  he  were  to  shoot  him  for  having  taken  such  a  young  lad  to  the 
war.     Whether  the  boy  was  willing  or  not  I  do  not  know. 

He  never  returned,  for  he  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  German- 
town.  The  brothers  of  the  young  soldier  climbed  the  trees  in 
the  vicinity  and  heard  the  discharge  of  the  cannon  at  the  battle 
where  their  brother  met  his  death.  This  was  related  to  me  by 
an  old  gentleman,  Mr.  Tilghman  Freyman,  who  had  a  remark- 
able memory,  and  whose  mother  was  a  sister  of  the  young  soldier. 

The  other  son  of  Daniel  Roth,  Senior,  named  Peter,  lived 
among  the  Quakers,  and  changed  the  spelling  of  his  name  to 
Rhoads.  He  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  in  Allentown,  where 
he  became  prominent  during  and  after  the  Revolution. 

John  Jacob  Schreiber  was  born  at  Niederbronn,  Alsace,  about 
1699.  He  was  married  April  28,  1733,  to  Anna  Magdalena  Roth, 
a  sister  of  Daniel  Roth,  above  mentioned.  They  left  Nieder- 
bronn May  4,  1733,  and  their  trip  to  America  was  their  wedding 
journey.  The  family  lived  some  time  in  Skippack  township, 
Montgomery  county,  but  soon  located  400  acres  of  land  along 
the  Lehigh  river,  where  the  Coplay  Cement  works  are  now  sit- 
uated. He  died  about  1750,  leaving  his  widow,  two  sons  and 
one  daughter  to  survive  him. 

John  Jacob  Mickley  settled  in  Whitehall  township,  where 
he  took  up  a  tract  of  land  under  a  warrant  dated  November 


59 

5,  i745>  adjoining  that  of  Ulrich  Flickinger.  He  married  Eliza- 
beth Barbara  Burghalter,  and  died  in  August,  1769.  He  had 
seven  children:  John  Jacob  Mickley,  born  December  17,  1737, 
died  December  12,  1808,  married  Susanna  Margaret  Miller,  born 
November  6,  1743,  died  December  16,  1807;  John  Martin  Mick- 
ley, born  March  3,  1745,  died  March  11,  1828,  married  Catharine 
Steckel,  born  April  8,  1749,  died  April  8,  1830;  Magdalena  Mick- 
ley, born  August  31,  1746,  died  February  31,  1833,  married 
(i)  Peter  Deshler,  born  March  18,  1743,  died  September  28,  1800, 
and  (2)  Michael  Bieber,  born  February  11,  1740,  died  October 
26,  1832;  John  Peter  Mickley,  born  1752,  settled  in  Bucks  county, 
and  died  in  1828;  Henry,  born  1754,  and  Barbara,  born  1756, 
were  both  killed  by  Indians  on  the  memorable  eighth  of  October, 
1763;  Susanna  Mickley  married  Andrew  Miller,  of  Lynn  township. 

George  Ruch,  a  native  of  Zinzendorf,  Alsace,  where  he  was 
born  in  1664,  came  to  America  in  1733,  in  his  seventieth  year. 
For  many  years  he  lived  on  a  large  tract  of  land  owned  by  a  non- 
resident, but  finally  purchased  a  tract  which  descended  to  his 
son  Lorenz  Ruch.  George  Ruch  died  in  1769,  aged  104  years 
and  eleven  months.  He  is  buried  in  the  old  graveyard  at  the 
Jordan  Lutheran  church. 

September  28,  1733,  there  landed  at  Philadelphia,  Ulrich 
Burghalter,  John  Nicholas  Saeger  and  Abraham  Wotring,  all  of 
whom  settled  in  Whitehall  township. 

Ulrich  Burghalter  was  a  native  of  Switzerland,  and  was 
forty  years  old  at  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  America.  With  him 
were  his  wife,  Anna  Barbara,  aged  34  years,  and  these  children; 
Elizabeth  Barbara,  aged  14,  Anna  Catharina,  aged  12,  Anna 
Magdalena,  aged  8,  Anna  Barbara,  aged  4,  Anna  Margaretha, 
aged  2^,  and  Peter,  aged  i^.  In  1743  he  purchased  a  tract  of 
finely  located  land  containing  300  acres,  which  by  deed  of  gift 
dated  November  9,  1754,  h^  conveyed  to  his  only  son  Peter. 
One  daughter,  Dorothea,  was  born  in  this  country.  Ulrich  Burg- 
halter died  in  1762.  His  son  Peter,  was  born  December  2,  1731, 
and  died  October  22,  1805.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention  of  1776,  and  in  November  of  the  same  year 
was  elected  a  member  of  the  Assembly,  the  only  member  from 
that  portion  of  Northampton  county  which  now  constitutes 
Lehigh  county.  He  was  re-elected  in  1777,  and  again  elected 
in  1784,  1785  and  1786. 

John  Nicholas  Saeger  is  recorded  as  39  years  old,  and  his 
wife,  Anna  Barbara,  as  28  years  old  at  the  time  of  their  arrival 
in  America.  Their  children  were:  Anna  Mary,  12^,  Anna  Bar- 
bara, 10,  John  Henry,  8,  Samuel,  6,  Anna  Louisa,  3^,  John  Chris- 
tian, 2,  and  Christina  Barbara,  six  months. 

He  settled  upon  a  tract  of  250  acres  adjoining  that  of  Ulrich 
Burghalter  upon  the  north,  where  now  the  works  of  the  Lehigh 
Portland  Cement  Company  are  located.     He  had  twelve  children, 


6o 

and  died  about  1762.  Of  the  children  mentioned  above,  John 
Henry  and  Anna  Louisa  died  in  childhood;  Anna  Mary  married 
John  Frederick  Snyder;  Anna  Barbara  married  a  Traxel;  Samuel 
married  Anna  Eva  Eberhard;  John  Christian,  born  January  26, 
1 73 1,  and  died  November  30,  1800,  was  the  ancestor  of  many 
of  the  Allentown  families  of  the  name.  His  wife,  Mary  Susanna 
Horn,  or  Hann,  was  born  February  7,  1736,  and  died  March 
6,  1800. 

Other  children  of  John  Nicholas  Saeger  born  in  this  coun- 
try were  Mary  Margaret,  John  Nicholas,  John  Jacob,  Anna 
Elizabeth  and  John. 

Abraham  Wotring,  or  Voiturin,  was  born  July  11,  1700, 
and  died  November  28,  1752.  He  had  sixteen  children,  of  whom 
eight  were  living  at  the  time  of  his  death.  He  settled  north  of 
Egypt  and  was  an  active  member  of  the  congregation  there, 
serving  as  a  delegate  to  the  first  Coetus  of  the  Reformed  church 
in  Philadelphia  in  1747. 

Frederick  Newhard  and  his  brothers  Michael  and  George 
arrived  at  Philadelphia  September  26,  1737.  They  were  natives 
of  Zweibruecken,  where  the  Newhard  or  Neihart  family  had  owned 
estates  since  the  year  1140.  Frederick  Newhard  purchased  a 
tract  of  203^  acres  adjoining  the  Kohler  and  Burghalter  tracts, 
but  on  account  of  the  scarcity  of  spring  water  and  the  abundance 
of  heavy  timber,  sold  it  on  February  i,  1742,  to  Adam  Deshler, 
and  purchased  a  tract  of  250  acres  immediately  north  of  William 
Allen's  land,  adjoining  the  city  of  Allentown  on  the  north.  A  part 
of  this  is  still  owned  by  one  of  his  descendants,  Francis  J.  New- 
hard.  Frederick  Newhard  was  born  in  1 700,  and  died  November 
29,  1765.  He  was  one  of  the  first  persons  buried  in  the  old  cem- 
etery at  Allentown. 

Michael  Newhard  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  what  is  now 
Laury's  Station.  He  was  born  in  17 13  and  died  in  1793.  He 
had  fifteen  children,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  there  survived 
him  124  grandchildren  and  71  great-grandchildren. 

Paul  Balliet  was  born  in  Alsace  in  171 7,  and  landed  at 
Philadelphia  September  11,  1738.  He  settled  at  what  is  now 
Ballietsville,  where  he  kept  a  tavern  and  store  for  many  years. 
He  married  Mary  Magdalena  Wotring,  daughter  of  Abraham  Wot- 
ring, and  died  March  19,  1777.  His  son,  Stephen  Balliet  was  a 
Lieutenant  Colonel  in  the  Revolution;  a  member  of  the  Supreme 
Executive  Council,  in  1783;  of  the  Assembly  in  1789,  and  in  1797 
was  appointed  Revenue  Collector  for  the  Second  District  of 
Pennsylvania. 

Lorentz  Guth  was  a  native  of  Zweibruecken,  and  landed  at 
Philadelphia  on  September  19,  1738.  On  February  27,  1739,  he 
purchased  300  acres  of  land  from  Nicholas  Kern,  and  June  12, 
1 741,  acquired  a  tract  of  47  acres.     In  1762  he  was  taxed  ;699> 


6i 

of  which  ^i8  was  abated.  In  1764  he  was  taxed  for  489  acres 
of  deeded  land  and  270  acres  of  undeeded  land,  a  total  of  759 
acres. 

He  died  prior  to  March  20,  1770,  leaving  a  widow,  Salome, 
and  six  children:  Juliana  Margaret,  wife  of  Peter  Kohler,  Lor- 
entz,  Jr.,  Peter,  Eva  Barbara,  married  first  to  Daniel  Dorney, 
and  second  to  George  Henry  Mertz,  Mary  Margaret,  wife  of 
Adam  Dorney,  and  Adam  Guth. 

Peter  Steckel  settled  in  Whitehall  township  at  an  early  date, 
and  May  20,  1768,  purchased  from  Peter  Troxel  a  stone  messuage 
and  plantation  of  410  acres  for  ^^1420.  The  house,  built  in  1756, 
was  until  recently  still  in  the  possession  of  the  family. 

Adam  Deshler  purchased  in  1742,  203^  acres  from  Frederick 
Newhard,  on  which  he  built  in  1760,  the  stone  dwelling  called 
Fort  Deshler,  which  is  still  standing.  He  furnished  the  pro- 
vincial troops  with  supplies  in  the  French  and  Indian  war,  and 
died  in  1781,  leaving  a  widow,  Appollonia,  three  sons  and  four 
daughters. 


A  Few  Notes  on  the  Lenni  Lenape  or 
Delaware  Tribe  of  Indians, 

By  Alfred  F.  Berlin. 


Between  the  years  1500- 1600  the  Algonkin  Stock,  then  at 
the  height  of  its  prosperity,  occupied  the  Atlantic  Coast  from  the 
Savannah  River  on  the  South  to  the  Strait  of  Belle  Isle  on  the 
North.  The  whole  of  Newfoundland  was  in  their  possession  and 
in  Labrador  they  were  neighbors  to  the  Eskimos.  Some  of  the 
subtribes  of  this  great  Indian  nation  wandered  as  far  West  as 
the  Rocky  Mountains.  They  surrounded  on  all  sides  that  crafty 
and  diplomatic  people,  the  Iroquois,  or  Five  Nations,  augmented 
later  on  by  the  linguistically  related  Tuscaroras  from  the  South, 
when  they  bombastically  styled  themselves  the  Six  Nations.  It 
is  said  that  they  presented  the  finest  type  of  the  North  American 
Indian.  In  statecraft  and  diplomacy  the  more  peaceful  Dela- 
wares,  who  will  be  the  subject  of  this  paper,  were  to  the  Iroquois 
no  equal  and  often  did  they  have  cause  to  regret  having  listened 
to  their  blandishments.  The  name  Lenni  Lenape,  we  are  told 
by  the  Missionary  Heckewelder,  is  the  national  and  proper  one 
of  this  tribe  and  signifies  "original  people,"  a  race  of  human 
beings  who  are  the  same  that  they  were  in  the  beginning. 

The  late  eminent  anthropological  authority,  Dr.  D.  G.  Brin- 
ton,  combats  this,  and  believes  that  the  word  means  a  "male  of 
our  kind,"  or  "one  more."  He  came  to  this  conclusion  after  a 
careful  examination  in  all  its  parts  of  the  word. 

Living  in  greatest  numbers  on  the  banks  of  the  Delaware 
River,  they  were  thus  called  by  the  Europeans.  Thinking  that 
this  name  was  given  to  them  in  derision  they  objected  to  it  until 
told  that  it  was  one  of  compliment.  Then  only  were  they  satisfied 
when  made  aware  of  the  fact  that  it  was  the  name  of  a  great  white 
chief,  Lord  de  la  War,  and  that  the  river  upon  whose  banks  were 
their  homes  was  given  the  same  name.  After  this  explanation 
they  were  greatly  pleased. 

According  to  traditions  handed  down  to  them  by  their  fore- 
fathers the  Lenni  Lenape  people  lived  many  hundreds  of  years 
ago  in  a  distant  country  in  the  western  part  of  the  American 
continent.  For  some  unaccountable  reason  they  determined  to 
migrate  eastward  and  in  a  body  set  out  together  in  that  direction. 


63 

After  a  very  long  journey  and  many  nights'  encampments  by  the 
way,  which  means  a  halt  of  one  year  at  a  place,  they  at  length 
reached  the  Namaesi  Sipu,  or  now  the  Mississippi  River.  The 
Lenape  spies  were  told  that  the  country  toward  which  their  people 
were  emigrating  was  occupied  by  a  very  'powerful  nation  who 
had  many  large  towns  built  on  the  great  rivers  flowing  in  every 
direction  through  their  land. 

When  the  Lenape  reached  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  River 
they  sent  a  message  to  the  Alligewi  the  people  occupying  the 
country,  asking  permission  to  settle  there.  This  request  was 
refused,  but  they  were  given  permission  to  pass  through  the 
country  and  seek  a  settlement  farther  on.  The  Alligewi  seeing 
the  great  numbers  crossing  the  river  made  a  furious  attack  on 
those  who  had  reached  their  side  and  threatened  with  destruction 
all,  if  the  others  still  remaining  on  the  other  side  persisted  in  com- 
ing. The  Lenape,  aided  by  the  Iroquois,  who  were  also  at  the 
same  time  going  toward  the  East,  declared  war  against  the  Alli- 
gewi. After  many  hard  fought  battles  in  which  many  warriors 
fell  on  both  sides,  the  Alligewi,  finding  their  destruction  inevitable 
if  they  persisted  in  their  obstinacy,  abandoned  the  country  to 
their  conquerors  and  fled  down  the  Mississippi  River,  from  whence 
they  never  returned.  This  war  lasted  many  years  and  the  brunt 
of  it  fell  always  upon  the  Lenape,  the  crafty  Iroquois  hanging 
back  in  the  rear,  while  the  battles  were  fought.  Through  intrigue 
and  craft  they,  however,  gained  the  land  they  desired,  which  was 
that  bordering  on  the  Great  Lakes  and  on  their  tributary  streams. 
The  Lenape  took  possession  of  the  country  to  the  South,  and  at 
last  reached  the  large  river  upon  which  they  lived,  as  before  said, 
in  greatest  numbers. 

They  say  that  the  whole  of  their  nation  did  not  reach  this 
country,  but  that  part  of  it  remained  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Mississippi,  on  being  informed  of  the  reception  met  with  by  those 
who  had  crossed. 

The  Lenape  were  divided  into  these  subtribes : 

1.  The  Minsi,  Monseys,  Montheys,  Munsees  or  Minisinks. 

2.  The  Unami  or  Wonameyo. 

3.  The  Unalachtigo. 

Minsi  means  "people  of  the  stony  country,"  or,  briefly, 
"mountaineers." 

Unami  means  "people  down -the  river." 

Unalachtigo  means  "people  who  live  near  the  ocean,"  and 
historically  such  were  the  positions  of  these  subtribes  when  they 
first  came  to  the  knowledge  of  the  Europeans. 

The  Minsi  lived  in  the  mountainous  region  at  the  head  waters 
of  the  Delaware,  above  the  Forks,  or  junction  of  the  Lehigh  River. 
One  of  their  principal  fires  was  on  the  Minisink  plains,  above  the 
Water  Gap,  and  another  on  the  East  Branch  of  the  Delaware, 
which  they  called  Namaeo  Sipu,  Fish  River. 


64 

The  Unami's  territory  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Delaware 
River  extended  from  the  Lehigh  Valley  southward.  It  was  with 
them  that  Penn  dealt  for  the  land  ceded  him  in  the  Indian  deed 
of  1682. 

The  Unalachtigo'  had  their  principal  seat  on  the  affluents  of 
the  Delaware,  near  where  Wilmington  now  stands. 

Each  of  these  subtribes  had  its  totemic  animal  from  which 
it  claimed  a  mystical  descent.  The  Minsi  had  the  wolf,  the 
Unami  the  turtle  and  the  Unalachtigo  the  turkey.  The  Unami, 
the  subtribe  which  occupied  the  territory  in  which  is  embraced 
our  Lehigh  county,  claimed  and  were  conceded  the  precedence  of 
the  others,  because  their  ancestor,  the  turtle,  was  not  the  common 
animal,  so  called,  but  the  great  original  tortoise  which  bears  the 
world  on  its  back.  This  animal  had  a  power  and  a  nature  to 
produce  all  things  on  the  earth,  even  the  earth  itself.  But  it 
was  not  the  ultimate  energy  of  the  universe.  There  was  a  greater 
cause  and  the  tortoise  only  brought  forth  that  which  this  primeval 
divinity  wished  through  it  to  produce.  Everywhere  in  Algonkin 
pictography  is  the  turtle  or  the  tortoise  the  symbol  of  the  earth. 

Each  tribe  of  the  Lenape  recognized  a  chieftain,  called 
sachem,  and  by  common  .and  ancient  consent,  the  chief  selected 
from  the  turtle  totem  was  head  chief  of  the  whole  Lenape  nation. 
They  could,  however,  not  go  to  war  themselves,  nor  attempt 
anything  indicating  that  the  tempest  of  strife  was  to  be  let  loose. 

War  was  declared  by  the  people  at  the  instigation  of  the 
"war  captains,"  valorous  braves  of  any  birth  or  family  who  had 
distinguished  themselves  by  personal  courage,  and  especially  by 
good  success  in  forays  against  the  enemy. 

The  Lenape  depended  not  alone  on  the  chase  for  subsistence. 
They  were  largely  agricultural,  and  raised  a  variety  of  fruits  and 
edible  plants.     Indian  corn  or  maize,  was,  as  usual,  the  staple. 

This  very  valuable  cereal  originated  in  all  probability  in  a 
circumscribed  locality,  above  4,500  feet  elevation,  north  of  the 
Isthmus  of  Tehuantepec,  Mexico,  and  south  of  the  twenty-second 
degree  of  north  latitude,  near  the  ancient  seat  of  the  mysterious 
and  cultured  Maya  tribes  of  Indians.  There  is  hardly  a  doubt 
but  that  they  first  cultivated  it  and  distributed  it  in  every  direc- 
tion. It  is  probable  that  maize  reached  the  Rio  Grande  about 
700  A.  D.,  for  Humbold  tells  us  that  the  Aztecs  learned  of  this 
staple  in  666  A.  D.  By  the  year  1000  A.  D.  it  had  reached  the 
coast  of  Maine.  So  extensively  was  it  cultivated  by  the  American 
aboriginal  people  that  during  wars  with  them  millions  of  bushels 
were  destroyed.  The  Puritans  in  King  Philip's  War,  in  1675, 
took  possession  of  1,000  acres  of  corn,  which  was  harvested  by 
the  English  and  disposed  of  according  to  their  directions.  Every- 
where the  Puritans  found  maize.  Marquis  de  Nouville,  in  his 
celebrated  expedition  against  the  Seneca  Indians,  a  subtribe  of 
the  Iroquois,  captured  and  destroyed  1,200,000  bushels.    It  took 


65 

Frontenac  three  days  in  1696  to  destroy  the  corn  of  the  Onon- 
dagas,  another  subtribe  of  the  Six  Nations. 

De  Soto  often  speaks  of  Indian  villages  surrounded  by  exten- 
sive fields  of  maize,  and  in  one  instance"  he  passed  through  con- 
tinuous fields  of  this  cereal  for  six  miles.  Becoming  short  of 
provisions  they  robbed  the  Indians  of  enough  corn  to  last  his  army 
of  freebooters  for  five  days. 

In  addition  to  this  wonderful  resource  of  corn  they  had 
extensive  fields  of  squashes,  beans  and  sweet  potatoes.  They 
also  cultivated  freely  a  hardy  variety  of  tobacco.  Of  this  plant 
more  in  a  future  paper.  They  also  consumed  wild  fruits  and 
plants  and  nutritious  tubers.  Of  nuts  they  used  acorns,  walnuts, 
hickory  nuts,  chestnuts.  They  had  plenty  of  melons,  persimmons, 
peaches,  plums,  grapes  and  mulberries.  Had  these  people  been 
left  to  themselves,  the  writer  is  certain,  they  would  in  course  of 
time  have  reached  a  high  state  of  civilization.  When  once  a 
people  become  stationary  and  begin  cultivating  the  ground,  this 
state  is  assured.  While  they  have  superstitious  notions,  and 
who  has  not,  be  he  educated  or  (unversed?)  the  supreme  Mannitto, 
the  creator  and  preserver  of  heaven  and  earth,  is  the  great  object 
of  their  adoration.  On  him  they  rest  their  hopes,  to  him  they 
address  their  prayers  and  make  their  solemn  sacrifices.  Their 
Almighty  Creator  is  always  before  their  eyes  on  all  important 
occasions. 

The  first  step  in  the  education  of  their  children  is  to  prepare 
them  for  future  happiness,  by  impressing  upon  their  tender  minds 
that  they  are  indebted  for  their  existence  to  a  great  and  benevolent 
Spirit,  who  not  only  has  given  them  life,  but  has  ordained  them 
for  certain  great  purposes,  and  as  they  grow  older  more  serious 
matters  pretaining  to  life  and  mode  of  living  are  taught  them. 
They  are  finally  told  that  if  they  respect  the  aged  and  infirm, 
and  are  kind  and  obliging  to  them,  they  will  be  treated  in  the 
same  manner  when  their  turn  comes  to  be  old.  What  a  blessing 
would  it  be  were  many  whites  taught  this  same  lesson. 

In  teaching  to  their  young  their  form  of  precepts  it  is  done  in 
the  gentlest  and  most  persuasive  manner.  The  child's  pride  is 
the  feeling  to  which  an  appeal  is  made,  which  proves  successful 
in  almost  every  instance.  How  well  could  the  Indian,  father  and 
mother  say  of  a  good  child,  as  they  often  did,  "May  the  great 
Spirit,  who  looks  upon  him,  grant  this  good  child  a  long  life." 

The  Missionary  Heckewelder,  to  whom  I  am  indebted  for 
much  of  the  information  contained  in  this  paper,  says:  "It  may 
justly  be  a  subject  of  wonder,  how  a  native  without  a  written 
code  of  laws  or  system  of  jurisprudence,  without  any  form  or 
constitution  of  government  and  without  even  a  single  elective 
or  hereditary  magistrate,  can  submit  together  in  peace  and  har- 
mony, and  in  the  exercise  of  the  moral  virtues;  how  a  people  can 
be  well  and  effectually  governed  without  any  external  authority; 


66 

by  the  mere  force  of  the  ascendency  which  men  of  superior  minds 
have  over  those  of  a  more  ordinary  stamp ;  by  a  tacit,  yet  universal 
submission  to  the  aristocracy  of  experience,  talents  and  virtue! 
Such,  nevertheless,  is  the  spectacle  which  an  Indian  nation  exhibits 
to  the  eye  of  a  stranger.  I  have  been  a  witness  to  it  for  a  long 
series  of  years  and  after  much  observation  and  reflection  to  dis- 
cover the  cause  of  this  phenomenon,  I  think  I  have  reason  to  be 
satisfied  that  it  is  in  a  great  degree  to  be  ascribed  to  the  pains 
which  the  Indians  take  to  instill  at  an  early  age  honest  and  vir- 
tuous principles  upon  the  minds  of  their  children,  and  to  the 
method  which  they  pursue  in  educating  them.  This  method  I 
will  not  call  a  system;  for  systems  are  unknown  to  the  sons  of 
Nature,  who  by  following  alone  her  simple  dictates,  have  at  once 
discovered  and  followed  without  effort  that  plain  obvious  path 
which  the  philosophers  of  Europe  have  been  so  long  in  search  of. 

"It  is  a  striking  fact  that  in  their  uncivilized  state  they  behave 
towards  each  other  as  though  they  were  a  cultivated  people. 
Their  general  principle,  that  good  and  bad  can  not  mingle  or 
dwell  together  in  one  heart,  and  therefore  must  not  come  in  contact 
seems  to  be  their  guide  on  all  occasions.  I  do  not  believe  that 
there  exists  a  people  more  attentive  to  paying  common  civilities 
to  each  other  than  are  the  Indians.  A  person  is  never  left  standing 
and  a  stranger,  if  a  white  person,  is  furnished  with  the  best  seat." 

Marriages  with  them  were  never  contracted  for  life.  One 
could  put  away  the  other  if  not  satisfied.  The  Indian  took  his 
wife  as  if  it  were  on  trial,  determined,  however,  in  his  own  mind 
not  to  forsake  her  if  she  behaved  well,  and  particularly  if  there 
were  children.  The  woman,  sensible  of  this,  does  on  her  part 
everything  in  her  power  to  please  her  husband,  particularly  if 
he  is  a  good  hunter  or  trapper,  capable  of  maintaining  her  by  his 
skill  and  industry  and  protecting  her  by  his  strength  and  courage. 
It  is  generally  believed  that  the  Indian  woman  was  treated  as  a 
slave.  Compared  with  the  tasks  imposed  upon  white  women, 
their  labors  appeared  hard  and  heavy,  but  they  were  no  more 
than  their  fair  share,  under  every  consideration  and  due  allow- 
ance of  the  hardships  attendant  on  savage  life.  They  are  both 
willing  and  able  to  do  it  and  always  perform  it  with  cheerfulness. 
Mothers  taught  their  daughters  those  duties  which  common  sense 
would  otherwise  point  out  to  them  when  grown  up.  An  Indian 
lives  to  see  his  wife  well  clothed,  and  the  more  he  does  for  her 
the  more  is  he  esteemed  particularly  by  his  female  neighbors. 
Whatever  longing  a  wife  or  mother  of  his  children  has,  if  possible, 
it  will  be  procured.- 

In  their  observations  upon  the  implements  then  used  by  the 
whites  and  their  shrewdness  in  making  axes,  guns,  knives,  hoes, 
shovels,  pots  and  kettles,  blankets  and  other  very  convenient 
articles  to  which  they  became  accustomed  they  say:  "Our  fore- 
fathers did  without  all  these  things,  and  we  have  never  heard, 


67 

nor  has  any  tradition  informed  us  that  they  were  at  a  loss  for  the 
want  of  them;  therefore,  we  must  conclude  that  they  were  also 
ingenious;  and,  indeed,  we  know  that  they  were;  for  they  made 
axes  of  stone  to  cut  with,  and  bows  and  arrows  to  kill  the  game ; 
they  made  knives  and  arrow  points  with  sharp  flint  stones  and 
bones;  hoes  and  shovels  from  the  shoulder  blade  of  the  elk  and 
buffalo;  they  made  pots  of  clay,  garments  of  skins,  and  orna- 
ments with  the  feathers  of  the  turkey,  goose  and  other  birds. 
They  were  not  in  want  of  anything,  the  game  was  plenty  and 
tame,  the  dart  shot  from  our  arrows  did  not  frighten  them  as 
the  report  of  the  gun  now  does;  we  had,  therefore,  everything 
that  we  could  reasonably  require;  we  lived  happy!" 

They  knew  not  the  use  of  spirituous  liquors  and  their  attend- 
ant results  until  the  advent  of  the  Europeans.  This  vice  produced 
terrible  results,  and  reflecting  Indians  remarked  "that  it  was 
strange  that  a  people  who  professed  themselves  believers  in  a 
religion  revealed  to  them  by  the  great  Spirit  himself,  who  say 
that  they  have  in  their  houses  the  Word  of  God,  and  his  laws 
and  commandments  textually  written,  could  think  of  making  a 
liquor  calculated  to  bewitch  people  and  make  them  destroy  one 
another." 

Mr.  Heckewelder  once  asked  an  Indian  at  Pittsburg  who  was 
a  stranger  to  him,  who  he  was.  The  red  man  answered  in  broken 
English:  "My  name  is  Blackfish,  when  at  home  with  my  nation  I 
am  a  clever  fellow,  and  when  here  a  hog."  Whiskey  had  sunk 
him  when  in  this  settlement,  down  to  the  level  of  that  beast. 
Indian  tradition  tells  us  that  the  Dutch,  under  Henry  Hudson, 
when  anchored  in  September,  1609,  in  New  York  bay,  were  the 
first  whites  to  give  to  the  Indians,  the  Mohicans,  a  subtribe  of 
the  Lenapes,  this  drink. 

I  shall  here  simply  describe  for  the  sake  of  brevity  the  pre- 
sentation of  the  liquor  in  the  council  meeting  and  the  results  of 
its  use  during  the  reception  given  the  whites.  Meanwhile,  a 
large  bottle  is  brought  by  one  of  the  servants  of  the  white  officer, 
from  which  an  unknown  substance  is  poured  out  into  a  small 
cup  or  glass  and  handed  to  the  white  officer.  He  drinks — has 
the  glass  filled  again  and  hands  it  to  the  chief  standing  next  to 
him.  The  chief  receives  it,  but  only  smells  the  contents  and  passes 
it  on  to  the  next  chief,  who  does  the  same.  The  glass  or  cup 
thus  passes  through  the  circle  without  the  liquor  being  tasted  by 
anyone,  and  is  upon  the  point  of  being  returned  to  the  red  clothed 
white  officer,  when  one  of  the  Indians,  a  brave  man  and  a  great 
warrior,  suddenly  jumps  up  and  harangues  the  assembly  on  the 
impropriety  of  returning  the  cup  with  its  contents.  It  was 
handed  to  them,  says  he,  by  the  white  officer,  that  they  should 
drink  out  of  it  as  he  himself  had  done.  To  follow  his  example 
would  be  pleasing  to  him,  but  to  return  what  he  had  given  them 
might  provoke  his  wrath  and  bring  destruction  on  them.     And 


68 

since  the  orator  believed  it  for  the  good  of  the  nation  that  the 
contents  offered  them  should  be  drunk,  and  as  no  one  else  would 
do  it,  he  would  drink  it  himself  let  the  consequence  be  what  it 
might;  it  was  better  for  one  man  to  die,  than  that  a  whole  nation 
should  be  destroyed.  He  then  took  the  glass  and  bidding  the 
assembly  a  solemn  farewell,  at  once  drank  up  its  whole  contents. 
Every  eye  was  fixed  on  the  resolute  chief,  to  see  what  effect  the 
unknown  liquor  would  produce.  He  soon  began  to  stagger  and 
at  last  fell  prostrate  to  the  ground.  His  companions  now  bemoan 
his  fate;  he  falls  into  a  sound  sleep  and  they  think  he  has  expired. 
He  wakes  again,  jumps  up  and  declares  that  he  has  enjoyed  the 
most  delicious  sensations  and  that  he  never  before  felt  himself 
so  happy  as  after  he  drunk  the  cup.  He  asks  for  more,  his  wish 
is  granted.  The  whole  assembly  then  imitate  him,  and  all  become 
intoxicated. 

In  the  way  of  introducing  the  Christian  religion  to  the  Lenapes 
little  was  done.  The  Rev.  Thomas  Campanius,  of  Stockholm,  a 
Lutheran  clergyman,  attached  to  the  Sweedish  settlement  from 
1642  to  1649,  made  a  creditable  effort  to  acquire  the  native  tongue 
and  preach  Christianity  to  the  savages  around  him.  So  very 
religious  a  body  as  the  early  Friends  did  nothing.  William  Penn 
offered  in  1699  to  provide  with  interpreters  the  Friends'  Meeting 
at  Philadelphia  to  convey  religious  instruction  to  them,  but  with- 
out avail.  For  nearly  half  a  century  nothing  was  done,  and  when 
young  David  Brainerd  began  his  mission  in  1742  he  distinctly 
states  that  there  was  not  another  missionary  in  the  province  of 
New  Jersey.  The  little  society  of  Christian  Indians  which  he 
gathered  in  Burlington  county,  New  Jersey,  was  even  reported 
as  a  congregation  of  rioters  and  enemies  of  the  State.  Penn's 
province  was  inclined  to  no  greater  favors  toward  Christianized 
natives.  Brainerd,  however,  knew  nothing  of  the  needs  of  a 
Christian  harvest  which  the  ardent  Moravian  leader,  Count 
Nicholas  Lewis  Zinzendorf,  had  in  1742  sown  in  the  wilderness 
of  Pennsylvania.  The  pious  Rauch  had  gathered  a  small  but 
earnest  congregation  of  Mohegans  at  Shekomeko,  who  soon 
removed  to  the  valley  of  the  Lehigh  to  Gnadenhutten,  now  Lehigh- 
ton.  Zeisberger  had  registered  himself  an  appointed  missionary 
to  the  heathen  in  1744,  but  when  in  1808,  after  sixty- two  years 
of  missionary  labors,  he  closed  his  eyes  in  death,  the  huts  of  barely 
a  score  of  converted  Indians  clustered  around  his  little  chapel. 

After  the  murder  of  the  Conestoga  Indians  the  Delawares 
first  withdrew  into  the  wilds  of  the  Susquehanna  and  settled  at 
Wyalusing,  about  100  miles  from  the  frontier  settlers  beyond 
the  Blue  Mountains.  But  after  living  here  for  about  five  years 
they  moved  off  in  a  body  directly  for  the  Muskingum  River  in 
Ohio.  From  there,  part  of  them  moved  to  Upper  Louisiana  in 
1789.  Others  went  to  Canada,  while  a  few  who  remained  in 
Ohio,  attempted  to  live  a  peaceful  and  agricultural  life.     They 


69 

lived  a  few  years  in  Indiana.  From  there  they  moved  to  near 
the  mouth  of  the  Kansas  River.  In  1850  they  were  reported  as 
owning  their  375,000  acres  and  numbering  1,500  souls.  Four 
years  later  they  "ceded"  their  land  and  the  majority  were  moved 
to  various  reservations  in  the  Indian  Territory.  In  Kansas 
there  lived  in  1885  about  60  of  these  unfortunate  people  and  in 
Ontario,  Canada,  300. 


Egypt  Church. 


History  of  the  Reformed  Congregation 
of  Egypt  Church. 

By  Chari^ks  Rhoads  Roberts. 


The  Egypt  Reformed  congregation  possesses  a  documen- 
tary history  which  runs  back  one  hundred  and  seventy-four 
years,  making  it  the  oldest  Reformed  congregation  in  Lehigh 
county,  the  Great  Swamp  congregation,  of  Lower  Milford  town- 
ship, coming  second.  The  year  1733  has  generally  been  accepted 
as  the  date  of  its  organization,  but  we  have  no  proof  of  the  cor- 
rectness of  this  date.  The  accurate  historian  must  depend  upon 
documentary  evidence  to  substantiate  any  statement  he  may 
make,  and  we  have  no  such  evidence  as  to  when  the  congrega- 
tion was  organized.  The  majority  of  the  first  settlers  in  this 
immediate  vicinity  were  natives  of  Switzerland  and  members 
of  the  Reformed  church.  It  was  natural,  therefore,  that  upon 
their  settlement  here,  they  should  organize  a  congregation  of 
their  own  faith.  It  was  in  the  year  1733  that  the  majority  of 
the  early  settlers  at  Egypt  arrived  in  America,  and  it  may  be 
that  in  this  year  an  organization  was  effected.  It  was  not,  how- 
ever, until  July  i,  1734,  that  any  land  warrant  was  secured, 
when  Jacob  Kohler,  who  is  supposed  to  have  settled  here  about 
1730,  obtained  a  warrant  for  one  hundred  acres  of  land. 

The  principal  source  of  information  regarding  this  congre- 
gation is  the  old  baptismal  record,  the  oldest  record  book  of  a 
Reformed  congregation  in  this  county.  It  is  a  small  volume 
bound  in  leather,  with  strips  of  buckskin  serving  instead  of 
clasps.  The  earliest  entry  in  this  book  is  dated  September  23, 
1734,  and  was  made  by  Rev.  John  Philip  Boehm,  recording  the 
baptism  of  David,  born  July  27,  1734,  ^  son  of  Peter  Traxel. 
The  sponsors  were  Nicholas  Kern  and  his  wife  Mary  Margaret 
Kern.  The  fact  that  Rev.  Boehm  made  this  entry  in  1734 
points  to  the  existence  of  a  congregation  at  that  time,  as  it  is 
doubtful  whether  he  would  have  opened  a  baptismal  record  had 
there  not  been  an  organized  congregation. 

Boehm 's  report  to  the  Holland  Synod,  written  October  18, 
1734,  in  the  Dutch  language,  does  not  mention  this  congregation. 
He   mentions,   however,   the   needs   of   "Macungie,   Maxatawny 


72 

and  Great  Swamp,  where,  notwithstanding  their  being  scattered 
very  far  apart,  yet  a  considerable  number  of  people  can  come 
together."  The  name  "Macungie,"  then  included  a  large  ter- 
ritory, and  the  inhabitants  of  this  region,  in  a  petition  to  the 
Court  in  1752,  for  the  erection  of  a  new  township,  which  was 
later  called  Whitehall,  styled  themselves,  "residents  of  the 
back  parts  of  Heidelberg  and  Macungie." 

In  the  same  report,  in  speaking  of  the  district  of  the  minister 
needed  at  Goshenhoppen,  Boehm  says:  "He  might  conduct 
services  there  every  three  weeks,  and  use  the  rest  of  the  time  to 
feed  the  poor  sheep  at  the  end  of  the  wilderness,  in  the  above 
mentioned  Saucon,  Macungie,  Maxatawny  and  Great  Swamp, 
who  thirst  for  the  hearing  of  God's  word  as  the  dry  earth  for 
water.  Many  people  from  these  regions  have  already  been  to 
see  me  in  great  sadness,  and  complained  of  the  pitiable  state  of 
their  souls.  There  were  also  some,  who  being  able  to  make  the 
journey,  have  come  at  various  times  to  communion  in  the  con- 
gregation entrusted  to  me  at  Falkner  Swamp,  a  distance  of  cer- 
tainly twenty-five  to  thirty  English  miles,  and  brought  children 
for  baptism,  which  journey,  however,  is  impossible  for  old  persons 
and  weak  women,  so  that  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  (especially 
when  one  remembers  that  there  are  children  who  for  lack  of  a 
minister  can  not  be  brought  to  baptism  until  they  are  several 
years  of  age)  that  my  heart  breaks  and  my  eyes  are  full  of  tears 
about  this  condition.  But  I  can  not  accomplish  this  work  alone, 
for  my  years  are  beginning  to  accumulate,  and  my  poor  body 
is  also  getting  feeble,  since  I  must  not  only  make  long  journeys 
and  preach,  but  also,  because  these  poor  people  are  not  able  to 
support  me,  I  must  support  my  large  family  with  manual  labor." 

The  second  entry  in  the  church  book  was  made  October 
26,  1736,  by  John  Henry  Goetschius,  recording  the  baptism  of 
John,  son  of  "the  respectable  Peter  Traxel,  church  censor  of  the 
Reformed  congregation  here,"  and  his  wife  Juliana  Catharine 
Traxel.  The  sponsors  were  Nicholas  Kern,  John  Egender  and 
Margaret  Egender.  This  is  the  first  mention  of  a  congregation 
here  and  also  the  first  mention  of  Goetschius  in  the  book.  Di- 
rectly above  this  entry  he  wrote:  "Getauft  durch  H.  Pfarrer 
Goetschi."  As  Goetschius  did  not  arrive  in  America  until  1735, 
this  record  could  not  have  been  made  in  1733,  as  has  been  often 
stated. 

It  is  in  this  year,  1736,  that  we  find  the  first  mention  of  the 
name,  "Egypt,"  appHed  to  this  vicinity.  On  the  title  page  of 
the  record  book  of  New  Goshenhoppen,  Goetschius  states  that 
he  served  the  congregations  at  Skippack,  Old  Goshenhoppen, 
New  Goshenhoppen,  Swamp,  Saucon,  Egypt,  Macedonia,  Mosil- 
lem,  Oley,  Bern  and  Tulpehocken.  Rev.  Prof.  William  J.  Hinke 
gives  1 736  as  the  date  when  this  inscription  was  written  by  Goet- 
schius. 


73 

The  third  entry  is  in  the  handwriting  of  Goetschius,  and  is 
the  baptism  on  July  27,  1737,  of  Peter  Roth  (the  writer's  great 
great  grandfather),  son  of  Daniel  and  Anna  Margaret  Roth.  The 
sponsors  were  Peter  Traxel,  deacon  of  the  Reformed  congre- 
gation and  his  wife  Juliana  Catharine. 

The  fourth  and  fifth  entries  are  dated  March  22,  1739,  when 
Goetschius  baptized  Anna  Barbara,  daughter  of  Abraham  and 
Anna  Margaret  Wotring  and  Catharine  Elizabeth,  daughter  of 
Michael  and  Eva  Catharine  Hoffman.  The  sponsors  of  the 
Wotring  child  were  Ulrich  Burghalter  and  his  wife  Anna  Bar- 
bara, and  of  the  Hoffman  child,  Peter  Traxel  and  Catharine 
Elizabeth  Kern,  the  wife  of  George  Kern. 

On  this  same  day  he  wrote  the  inscription  on  the  fly  leaf  of 
the  baptismal  record;  viz,  in  Greek,  "Nothing  without  writing;" 
in  Latin,  "All  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  salvation  of  our  souls;" 
and  in  German,  "Baptismal  Record  of  the  Congregation  on  the 
Lehigh,  in  which  are  recorded  the  names  of  the  children  bap- 
tized, the  names  of  their  parents,  and  also  the  names  of  their 
sponsors.  Commenced  March  22,  1739.  J.  Henricus  Goet- 
schius, M.  (Minister).  Helvetico  Tigurinus."  (A  Swiss  of  Zu- 
rich).''' This  date  is  corroborated  by  two  eminent  authorities. 
Prof.  Wm.  J.  Hinke  says:  "The  church  record  at  Egypt  has 
always  been  supposed  to  have  been  opened  by  Goetschius  in 
1733,  but  on  closer  examination  the  date  turns  out  to  be  1739." 
Rev.  Dr.  Joseph  H.  Dubbs  says  in  "The  Reformed  Church  in 
Pennsylvania";  "The  inscriptions  on  the  title  pages  of  church 
records,  which  have  led  to  so  much  misunderstanding,  are  easily 
explained.  Goetschius  found  the  books  already  in  existence, 
containing  a  number  of  entries  of  baptism;  but  the  first  page 
was  in  each  case  unoccupied,  and  he  took  a  boyish  pleasure  in 
putting  his  name  there,  sometimes  adding  a  few  sentences  in 
Greek  or  Latin.  The  inscription  at  New  Goshenhoppen  was 
not  written  before  1736,  though  on  the  next  following  page 
there  is  the  record  of  a  baptism  solemnized  in  1731  by  some 
earlier  minister.  The  inscription  at  Egypt  turns  out  to  have 
been  written  in  1739,  and  the  one  at  Great  Swamp  alone  is  legibly 
dated  April  24,  1736." 

This  is  precisely  what  happened  at  Egypt,  for  Rev.  Boehm 
made  the  earliest  entry  in  1734,  leaving  several  pages  blank. 
Goetschius  did  not  appear  until  1736,  when  he  baptized  the 
second  Traxel  child.  In  1737,  he  baptized  the  Roth  child  and 
in  1739  wrote  the  inscription  on  the  fly-leaf. 

These  pioneer  organizers  of  this  congregation  deserve  more 
than  passing  mention.  Peter  Traxel,  or  Drachsel,  and  his  wife 
Juliana  Catharine,  were  natives  of  Switzerland  and  came  to 
America  in  1733,  with  two  sons,  Peter  and  Daniel.     He  settled 

♦These  records,  from  1734  to  1834,  translated  by  tne  writer,  will  appear  in  the  Sixth 
Series  of  Pennsylvania  Archives. 


74 

at  Egypt,  where  he  appears  to  have  been  the  most  prominent 
of  the  church  members,  being  mentioned  as  censor  in  1736  and 
1 741,  and  as  deacon  in  1737  and  1741.  A  few  years  later  he 
removed  a  few  miles  westward  and  secured  large  tracts  of  land 
along  the  Jordan  creek,  some  of  which  is  still  owned  by  his 
descendants,  one  of  whom  is  James  Troxell,  residing  near  the 
Iron  Bridge. 

Nicholas  Kern,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Whitehall 
township,  owned  large  tracts  of  land  near  what  is  now  Guths- 
ville,  which  he  sold  in  1739  to  Lawrence  Guth,  and  removed  to 
the  site  of  Slatington. 

Daniel  Roth,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  where  he  was  born 
about  1703,  came  to  America  in  1733,  and  in  1737,  settled  at 
the  Jordan  at  what  is  now  Sherersville.  He  died  in  April,  1737, 
in  the  same  hour  in  which  his  son  Peter,  baptized  at  Egypt  on 
July  27th  following,  was  born.  This  son  became  prominent  as 
a  Revolutionary  patriot,  and  was  the  first  President  Judge  of 
Northampton  county.  An  elder  son,  Daniel,  born  in  Switzer- 
land in  1724,  was  the  ancestor  of  many  of  the  Roth  families  in 
Whitehall  to-day. 

Abraham  Wotring  was  born  July  11,  1700,  and  came  to 
America  in  1733,  with  his  wife  and  four  children.  He  died  in 
1752,  leaving  eight  children  to  survive  him. 

Ulrich  Burghalter,  also  from  Switzerland,  arrived  in  1733, 
on  the  same  ship  with  Abraham  Wotring,  accompanied  by  his 
wife  and  six  children.  He  died  in  1762.  His  only  son,  Peter 
Burghalter,  was  prominent  in  the  Revolution,  and  is  buried 
here  at  Egypt. 

Michael  Hoffman  came  to  America  in  1732,  and  settled 
along  the  Coplay  creek.  He  died  in  1786.  John  and  Michael 
were  his  sons. 

George  Kern,  in  whose-  house  the  congregation  often  wor- 
shipped, arrived  in  this  country  in  1737,  and  bought  land 
adjoining  the  Kohler  and  Burghalter  families.  He  was  the 
father  of  George  Jacob  Kern  and  Mrs.  Philip  Jacob  Schreiber. 

On  April  16,  1739,  Goetschius  baptized  Christian  and  Juliana 
Margaret  Traxel,  twin  children  of  Peter  and  Juliana  Catharine 
Traxel.  The  sponsors  were  Christian  Brengel,  Peter  Traxel, 
Salome  Gut,  John  Bertsch,  Catharine  EHzabeth  Kern  and  Mary 
Margaret  Newhard.  On  May  13,  1739,  he  baptized  Jacob,  son 
of  Jacob  Bricker  and  Catharine  Eva,  daughter  of  Clementz 
Arndt.     These  are  the  last  of  his  entries  in  the  book. 

John  Henry  Goetschius,  or  Goetschi,  was  the  son  of  Rev. 
Moritz  Goetschius,  of  Saletz,  Canton  of  Zurich,  Switzerland. 
His  father  left  Zurich  on  October  4,  1734,  at  the  head  of  four 
hundred  persons,  including  his  wife  and  eight  children,  intending 
to  go  to  the  Carolinas.  After  many  trials  they  arrived  at  Rot- 
terdam, where  the  father  was  persuaded  to  change  his  destina- 


75 

tion  to  Pennsylvania  and  was  promised  a  salary  of  2,000  gulden, 
for  the  first  year,  to  organize  and  superintend  the  churches  of 
Pennsylvania.  He  accepted  the  offer  and  after  a  terrible  voyage 
of  three  months,  in  which  the  passengers  suffered  greatly,  they 
arrived  at  Philadelphia  on  May  29,  1735.  On  the  arrival  of  the 
vessel,  the  elders  of  the  Reformed  congregation  of  Philadelphia 
came  on  board  to  greet  him  as  their  pastor.  He  was  very  ill,, 
but  responded  heartily.  The  next  day  he  was  taken  ashore  to 
a  house,  but  his  wife  and  family  remained  on  the  ship.  While 
carrying  him  up  the  stairs  to  a  chamber  on  the  second  floor,  he 
expired.  On  the  third  day  after,  he  was  buried  in  the  church- 
yard of  the  principal  Presbyterian  church  in  Philadelphia  with 
elaborate  ceremonies. 

His  eldest  son,  John  Henry,  was  then  seventeen  years  old, 
and  a  student  for  the  ministry.  When  the  people  saw  the  cer- 
tificate of  his  studies,  they  were  delighted,  and  insisted  on  his 
preaching.  He  was,  therefore,  as  Rev.  Dr.  Good  says,  the  boy 
preacher  of  the  early  Reformed.  He  preached  to  them  every 
Sunday  twice  and  had  catechization  twice.  The  first  Sunday 
he  preached  at  Philadelphia  morning  and  evening,  and  after 
service  he  had  catechization.  On  the  second  Sunday  he  preached 
at  Skippack  in  the  morning,  then  had  catechization,  and  in  the 
afternoon  he  had  service  and  catechization  at  Old  Goshenhoppen. 
On  the  third  Sunday  he  preached  at  New  Goshenhoppen  and 
had  catechization  in  the  morning.  In  the  afternoon  he  preached 
at  Great  Swamp,  in  Lehigh  county,  where  was  a  large  congre- 
gation. Here,  at  Great  Swamp,  he  opened  the  church  book  on 
April  24,  1736. 

Goetschius  continued  preaching  until  1739,  when  he  went 
to  Bucks  county  and  studied  under  Dorsius.  On  September 
24,  1740,  he  paid  a  farewell  visit  to  New  Goshenhoppen  and  bap 
tized  eight  children.  Rev.  Boehm  says  in  his  report  in  1744, 
that  Goetschius  went  to  Long  Island  in  October,  1740,  where 
he  was  irregularly  ordained  by  Revs.  Dorsius,  Tennant  and 
Frelinghuysen  in  April,  1741.  The  classis  of  Amsterdam  was 
very  angry  at  this  act  of  Dorsius  in  ordaining  Goetschius,  as  he 
had  no  authority  from  them  to  do  it,  and  he  was  censured.  Goet- 
schius was  finally  examined  and  ordained  in  1748,  when  he  be- 
came pastor  at  Hackensack,  N.  J.     He  died  in  1774. 

The  next  three  entries  in  the  book  were  probably  written 
by  Rev.  Boehm,  who  preached  here  occasionally  until  his  death 
in  1749.  The  first  of  these  is  dated  June  12,  1739,  and  is  the 
baptism  of  Anna  Barbara,  daughter  of  Martin  and  Sara  Kocher. 
The  sponsors  were  Barbara,  wife  of  Ulrich  Burghalter  and  Nicho- 
las Saeger.  On  June  27,  1739,  George,  the  son  of  Ulrich  and 
Lucia  Flickinger,  was  baptized.  His  sponsors  were  George 
Kern  and  Juliana,  wife  of  Peter  Traxel.  The  last  of  these  three 
entries  is  the  baptism  on  September  30,   1739,  of  John  Peter 


76 

Sensinger,  son  of  Ulrich  and  Catharine  Sensinger.  The  spon- 
sors were  Peter  Traxel  and  wife  JuHana,  Anna  Mary,  wife  of 
John  Traxel,  and  Nicholas  Kern. 

^^1^  Ulrich   Flickinger   came   to  America  in    1733.     The   family 
lived  here  many  years,  but  later  removed  from  the  vicinity. 
f%>\    Johii  Traxel,  whose  wife  was  a  sponsor,  came  to  America 
•in  1737.     His  son,  John  Peter  Traxel,  built  in  1756,  the  house 
in  which  the  congregation  frequently  worshipped. 

Then  follow  three  entries  of  the  baptism  of  children  in  the 
Saucon  church,  on  September  23,  1740,  by  "Inspector  Peter 
Henry  Torschius." 


House  built  by  John  Peter  Traxel  in  1756,  in  which  church  services  were  held. 


The  first  of  these  is  that  of  John  Michael  Lorentz,  son  of 
Frederick  and  Margaret  Newhard.  The  sponsors  were  Lorentz 
Guth,  Michael  Newhard,  Juliana  Catharine  Traxel  and  Engel 
Trumer.  The  second  is  that  of  John  Michael,  son  of  John  and 
Anna  Mary  Weber.  The  sponsors  were  Michael  Weber  and  wife. 
The  third  is  that  of  Mary  Barbara,  daughter  of  John  Nicholas 
and  Eva  Schneider.  The  sponsors  were  Peter  Traxel,  Paulus 
Paillet,  Mary  Margaret,  wife  of  Nicholas  Kern,  and  Anna  Bar- 
bara, daughter  of  Nicholas  Saeger. 

Frederick  Newhard  owned  203^  acres  of  land  along  the 
Coplay  creek,  which  he  sold  to  Adam  Deshler,  and  removed  to 
near/ Allen  town.     He  came  from  Zweibruecken  in  1737. 


77 

Michael  Newhard,  brother  of  Frederick,  was  born  in  17 13, 
and  died  in  1793,  He  and  his  wife  are  buried  in  the  Egypt 
graveyard.  He  was  the  ancestor  of  the  Newhard  famiHes  of 
North  Whitehall. 

Lorenz  Guth  came  from  Zweibruecken  in  1738.  He  after- 
wards founded  the  Jordan  Reformed  church. 

Paul  Balliet  was  born  in  Alsace  in  171 7,  and  came  to  this 
country  in  1738.  He  married  a  daughter  of  Abraham  Wotring, 
and  died  in  1777.  He  was  the  father  of  Col.  Stephen  Balliet,  a 
Revolutionary  officer. 

Rev.  Dr.  J.  I.  Good  says,  in  his  "History  of  the  Reformed 
Church,"  that  Rev.  Dorsius  was  a  native  of  Meurs,  Germany. 
He  studied  at  Groningen  and  Leyden,  and  was  ordained  in  Hol- 
land in  1737.  He  came  to  America  October  5,  1737,  and  was 
pastor  of  the  Dutch  church  at  Neshaminy,  Bucks  county.  He 
had  been  asked  by  the  deputies  in  Holland  to  correspond  with 
them  and  to  answer  certain  questions  concerning  the  German 
Reformed  churches  in  Pennsylvania. 

The  next  entry  in  the  record  book  states  that  the  following 
five  children  were  baptized  on  July  28,  1741,  by  Rev..  Mr.  Boehm. 
These  children  were  George  Frederick,  son  of  Peter  and  Juliana 
Catharine  Traxel,  w^hose  sponsors  were  George  Kern,  Frederick 
Newhard,  Salome  Gut,  wife  of  Lorentz  Gut,  and  Susanna,  wife 
of  George  Ruch;  Catharine  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  George  and 
Catharine  Elizabeth  Kern,  whose  sponsors  were  Peter  Traxel, 
church  censor,  Roland  Schmidt,  Mary  Barbara,  wife  of  Michael 
Newhard  and  Luce,  wife  of  Ulrich  Flickinger;  Catharine  Bar- 
bara, daughter  of  Ulrich  and  Luce  Flickinger,  whose  sponsors 
were  Christian  Brengel,  single,  Juliana  Catharine,  wife  of  Peter 
Traxel,  and  Catharine  Elizabeth,  wife  of  George  Kern;  a  child 
of  Ludwig  and  Eva  Knaus,  whose  sponsors  were  Nicholas  and 
Mary  Margaret  Kern;  and  George  Jacob,  son  of  Frederick  and 
Anna  Mary  Schneider,  whose  sponsors  were  George  Jacob  Kern, 
son  of  George  Kern  and  Anna  Barbara,  daughter  of  Nicholas 
Saeger. 

Rev.  John  Philip  Boehm  was  born  at  Hochstadt,  Germany, 
Nov.  25,  1683.  His  father,  Philip  Lewis  Boehm,  was  the  pas- 
tor there.  John  Philip  Boehm  taught  school  at  Worms  from 
1708  to  1 715,  and  at  Lambsheim  from  1715  to  1720,  after  which 
he  came  to  America.  He  settled  in  the  Schuylkill  valley  above 
Philadelphia  and  there  held  religious  services  without  salary  in 
the  capacity  of  a  "reader."  As  no  Reformed  minister  was  to  be 
had,  the  people  finally  prevailed  on  him  to  become  their  mini- 
ster, and  in  1725,  he  first  administered  the  communion  at  Falk- 
ner  Swamp,  Skippack  and  White  Marsh.  He  formulated  a 
church  constitution  which  was  adopted  by  seven  congregations — 
the  three  above  mentioned,  Conestoga,  Tulpehocken,  Philadelphia 
and  Oley.      Later   he  also  founded  a  congregation  in  Whitpain 


78 

township,  Montgomery  county,  still  called  Boehm's  church. 
He  was  ordained  Nov.  23,  1729,  in  the  Reformed  church  of  New 
York  city.  He  died  suddenly  at  the  house  of  his  eldest  son, 
April  29,  1749,  after  he  had  on  the  previous  day  administered 
the  communion  to  the  congregation  at  Egypt.  This  house  is 
still  standing  at  Hellertown.  As  Rev.  Dr.  Good  says,  he  worked 
on  virgin  soil,  and  should  ever  be  honored  as  the  founder  of 
our  church. 

Again  referring  to  the  church  book,  we  find  this  notice: 
"1742.  Children  were  baptized  by  Peter  Traxel  and  George 
Kern.  Commencing  1742,  were  baptized  by  myself.  John 
Conrad  Wuertz.     V.  D.  M.    Helvetio  Tigurinus."  . 

John  Conrad  Wuertz,  or  Wirtz,  was  born  Nov.  30,  1706, 
and  was  a  brother-in-law  of  Goetschius.  He  became  school- 
master at  old  Goshenhoppen,  and  later  began  preaching,  though 
not  ordained. 

He  baptized  twelve  children  here  at  Egypt,  dating  from 
Sept.  17,  1742  to  Dec.  21,  1744. 

Michael  Schlatter,  the  Missionary  Superintendent,  also 
visited  Egypt  in  June,  1747.  He  says  in  his  Journal:  "From 
Wednesday  to  Saturday,  the  24th,  25th  and  26th,  I  visited  the 
congregations  in  Manatawny,  Magunchy,  Egypt  and  on  the 
Lehigh,  a  circuit  of  45  miles  and  came  near  to  Bethlehem,  a  loca- 
tion of  the  Moravians." 

In  September,  1747,  the  first  Coetus  of  the  Reformed  church 
was  held  in  Philadelphia,  and  the  delegate  from  Egypt  was  Abra- 
ham Wotring. 

From  1744  to  1752  there  are  no  entries  in  the  record  book. 
Schlatter  says  in  his  journal,  on  Nov.  8,  1748:  "I  received  a  call 
for  a  minister  from  the  congregations  called  Egypt  and  Heidel- 
berg. They  desire  to  have  a  permanent  pastor,  and  obligate 
themselves  for  forty-two  pounds,  or  two  hundred  and  eighty 
Dutch  guilders,  as  salary:"  In  the  same  year  he  states  that 
the  charge,  composed  of  the  Heidelberg,  Egypt,  and  Jordan 
congregations,  is  without  a  regular  minister. 

In  the  minutes  of  the  second  Coetus,  held  in  1748,  is  the 
following:  "The  delegates  from  Egypt  and  Heidelberg,  in  Bucks 
county,  and  from  Little  Lehigh,  have  asked  for  a  regular  min- 
ister, and  have  received  as  a  unanimous  answer  from  the  Coetus 
that  if  at  least  fifty  pounds  of  Pennsylvania  money  can  be  raised, 
then  Coetus  will  send  a  request  to  the  Venerable  Christian  Synods 
to  obtain  a  minister  for  them." 

It  was  at  this  same  session  of  Coetus  that  the  marriage  fee 
was  fixed  at  7  shillings  and  6  pence,  and  the  fee  for  a  funeral 
sermon  at  5  shillings,  but  no  renumeration  was  to  be  asked  for 
baptism. 

In  .the  minutes  of  a  special  Coetus  held  at  Philadelphia  on 
August  10  to  13,  1752,  Rev.  Michael  Schlatter  in  his  report  to 


"9 

the  Holland  Synods  says  that  with  the  approval  of  the  brethern, 
he  placed  the  newly  arrived  six  ministers,  among  them  Domine 
Wissler  at  Egypt.  At  the  Coetus  held  October  i8  to  24,  1752, 
at  Lancaster,  John  Jacob  Wissler,  of  Egypt,  was  present. 

In  the  minutes  of  a  special  Coetus  held  at  Philadelphia  on 
December  12,  1752,  occurs  the  following:  "As  regards  Domine 
Wissler,  located  at  Egypt,  at  no  great  distance  from  Dos.  Weiss 
and  Leydich,  he  is  more  of  a  friend  to  Dos.  Steiner  and  Rubel 
than  to  us,  and  we  are  also  afraid  that  he  will  not  come  up  to 
our  expectations.  Neither  did  he  come  to  this  meeting,  but  sent 
in  writing  the  following  excuses;  viz.,  'That  he  had  an  engage- 
ment to  preach,  and  to  marry  a  couple,  that  he  had  to  visit  the 
sick  and  had  house  visitations  on  hand,  nor  could  he  leave  his 
wife  alone,  and  that  he  had  no  money  for  the  journey.'  " 

In  the  church  book  in  1752,  after  the  text,  Matthew,  19:  14, 
occurs  the  name,  "John  Jacob  Wissler,  Dillenberga  Nassauicus, 
pastor  of  Egypt,  Jordan  and  Heidelberg." 

Rev.  Wissler  was  born  at  Dillenberg,  Feb.  23,  1727,  and  was 
the  only  one  of  the  six  young  men  who  came  with  Schlatter  who 
was  married.  He  seems  to  have  been  the  first  regularly  appointed 
pastor  of  Egypt  congregation.  His  salary  in  1753  is  recorded 
as  35  pounds.  The  first  entry  written  by  Rev.  Wissler  was  on 
Sept.  24,  1752.  Of  the  sixteen  entries  of  baptism  made  by  him, 
seven  related  to  Egypt,  seven  to  Heidelberg,  and  two  to  Jordan 
congregation.  He  also  recorded  the  confirmation  here  in  1753 
of  fourteen  boys  and  seventeen  girls,  and  in  1754  of  two  boys 
and  two  girls.  Of  the  earlier  ministers,  he  was  the  only  one 
who  recorded  any  deaths,  of  which  there  are  two,  Abraham 
Wotring,  on  Nov.  28,  1752,  and  EHzabeth,  daughter  of  the  late 
Henry  Roeder,  of  Heidelberg,  on  May  10,  1753.  He  recorded 
also  two  marriages,  one  on  December  12,  1752,  in  Heidelberg, 
the  very  day  on  which  Coetus  met,  showing  that,  one,  at  least, 
of  his  excuses  was  true. 

In  the  Coetus  minutes  of  October  30,  1754,  mention  is  made 
of  his  death,  "a  month  ago,  after  a  sickness  of  two  months," 
and  his  widow  was  given  ten  pounds.  In  1756,  Coetus  gave  his 
widow  six  pounds;  in  1757,  six  pounds;  and  in  i759.  two  pounds, 
eight  shillings.  In  a  letter  written  by  Rev.  Stoy,  dated  Sept. 
30,  1757,  referring  to  the  Indian  troubles,  he  says:  "The  place 
where  Domine  Wisslej  labored,  when  living  (Egypt),  has  been 
pillaged  and    robbed  of  its  inhabitants." 

From  1754  to  December,  1764,  Egypt  was  without  a  pastor. 
Who  preached  here  is  unknown.  Although  there  are  many 
records  for  these  years  in  the  church  book,  there  are  no  names 
of  ministers  recorded.  Two  baptisms  are  recorded  on  Oct.  5, 
1755,  very  poorly  written,  evidently  by  a  layman,  and  one  on 
May  2,  1756.  Then  the  handwriting  improves,  and  there  are 
two  recorded  on  June  6, 1756;  two  on  July  15, 1756;  two  on  August 


8o 

15.  1756;  and  one  on  November  7,  1756.  In  1757  there  are  five 
records,  and  in  1758,  six;  in  1759,  one;  in  1760,  three;  in  1761, 
six;  in  1762,  one;  and  in  1763,  three.  The  last,  on  April  12, 
1763,  and  the  last  in  the  old  church  book,  was  a  daughter  of 
John  and  Margaret  Snyder,  all  three  of  whom  were  killed  by 
Indians  on  October  8,    1763,   about  a  mile  northwest  of  here. 

In  the  minutes  of  Coetus  of  1763,  is  the  following:  "A  call  was 
presented  to  us  by  the  three  congregations  in  Weythall  (White- 
hall) township  and  Northampton  county,  in  which  they  ear- 
nestly desire  to  have  a  regular  pastor,  for  whom  they  are  willing 
according  to  their  ability  to  contribute  fifty  pounds,  Pennsyl- 
vania currency,  per  annum.  If  it  were  possible  to  raise  this 
sum  to  fifty  pounds  sterling,  we  would  humbly  beg  your  Rever- 
ences to  secure  a  pastor  for  them.  But  as  this  sum  (fifty  pounds 
Pennsylvania  currency)  is  too  small  properly  to  support  an 
honest  man,  we  dare  not  venture  to  do  so.  However,  should 
the  Reverend  Fathers  know  of  a  way  to  increase  that  sum,  the 
increase  would  be  accepted  with  cordial  gratitude." 

In  the  minutes  of  1764  it  is  stated  that  "Lancaster,  Reading, 
York,  Tulpehocken,  Whitehall,  Kaston,  Goshenhoppen,  impor- 
tant places  for  preachers,  request,  beg  and  pray  through  us  for 
help."  In  1765,  Rev.  Weyberg,  President  of  Coetus,  reported 
having  visited  several  congregations,  among  them  Whitehall, 
and  found  them  in  good  order. 

In  the  minutes  of  the  Coetus  held  at  Lancaster  on  May  9, 
1765,  is  stated  that  one,  John  Daniel  Gros,  a  well-educated  man, 
who  came  over  with  Rev.  Hendel,  was  received  into  the  Coetus. 
The  minutes  then  continue  as  follows:  "The  time  in  Holland 
being  too  short,  on  account  of  the  departure  of  the  ship,  he  could 
not  further  address  himself  to  the  Rev.  Synods  and  await  their 
decision.  Therefore  he  at  once  desired  our  assistance  here.  We 
were  obliged  to  take  him  from  the  ship,  because  several  sheperd- 
less  congregations  wanted  to  take  him,  engage  him,  and  receive 
him  as  their  pastor.  To  stop  and  prevent  all  disorder,  we 
examined  him  in  theology  and  languages,  and  found  him  exceed- 
ingly well  versed.  His  delivery  was  defective,  but  his  creden- 
tials from  Marburg  and  Heidelberg  were  genuine  and  fine.  Mr. 
Hendel's  testimony  to  his  conduct  and  diligence  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Heidelberg  as  long  as  he  knew  him  there,  was  of  very 
great  weight  with  us.  In  this  manner  we  ordained  him  and 
located  him  at  Whitehall,  where  he  is  serving  four  congregations 
with  zeal  and  praise.  We  trust  that  this  worthy  man  will  be 
accepted  by  your  Reverences,  and  that  our  action,  demanded 
by  the  state  of  aff'airs,  will  meet  with  approval." 

Further  on  we  find  the  following:  "At  Whitehall  Domine 
Gros  found  94  members  in  the  one  congregation,  Egypt;  from 
the  middle  of  December  to  May,  baptized  7  children,  received 
13  members." 


8i 

According  to  the  inscription  on  the  fly  leaf  of  the  record 
book  of  the  Reformed  church  at  Unionville,  December  20,  1764, 
is  the  date  Rev.  Gros  took  charge  of  the  four  congregations  of 
Allentown,  Egypt,  Schlosser's  and  at  the  Jordan.  In  1766, 
Rev.  Gros  reported  31  families  at  Egypt,  12  members  received 
and  7  baptized. 

The  first  baptismal  record  written  by  Rev.  Gros  at  Egypt 
was  dated  April  28,  1765,  and  is  the  first  entry  in  the  second 
church  book.  This  book  contains  the  following  inscription: 
"Church  Book  of  the  Congregation  in  Egypt,  begun  in  the  year 
1764,  under  the  care  of  Rev.  Daniel  Gros,  Reformed  Minister." 
On  the  fly  leaf  is  the  following  memorandum:  "The  Egypt  church. 
The  Reformed  congregation  was  founded  Anno  1733.  The 
first  was  a  log  church,  built  in  1764.  The  second  was  of  stone, 
40  by  50  feet,  and  was  built  in  the  year  1785.  The  third  is  of 
brick,  50  by  65  feet,  and  was  built  in  1851.  It  cost  in  money 
expended  $7,383.00,  and  including  the  work,  cost  about  $11,000." 
From  other  memoranda  we  learn  that  Nov.  8,  1765,  George 
Jacob  Kern,  who  had  the  custody  of  the  alms  money,  paid  £1. 
4s.  8d.  to  Jacob  Mickley,  the  elder,  his  successor.  On  December 
17,  1766,  Jacob  Mickley  paid  ^i.  6s.  to  his  successor  as  alms- 
surveyor,  John  Schadt.  On  the  same  date,  the  church  account 
was  examined,  and  no  claims  were  found  against  the  congre- 
gation, but  all  debts  were  paid.  This  was  signed  by  Adam 
Deshler,  Michael  Newhard  and  Rev.  Gros. 

In  1767  the  four  congregations  purchased  a  house  and  six 
acres  of  land,  situated  in  what  was  called  "Moyer's  Valley," 
for  use  as  a  parsonage.  The  cost  of  this  was  one  hundred  and 
fifty- two  pounds,  Pennsylvania  Currency  ($345.67).  Egypt's 
share  was  one-fourth,  or  thirty-eight  pounds.  In  addition  to 
this  there  was  spent  upon  the  parsonage  ^^31.  13s.  4d.,  of  which 
Egypt's  share  was  £'].  i8s.  4d.  Adding  to  this  2s.  6d.  for  writing 
the  agreement,  made  the  total  for  this  congregation  amount 
to  ^46.  lod.  From  an  old  account  book  of  the  congregation 
we  find  that  this  amount  was  made  up  as  follows: 

£       s.       d. 

Peter  Burkhalter 4  o  o 

George  Jacob  Kern 4  o  o 

Johannes  Schad 2        12  6 

Christoph  Schneider 15  6 

Adam  Deshler 3         4         o 

Peter  Deshler 17  6 

Jacob  Mickly,  Jun 2        10  o 

Peter  Kohler 3  4  o 

Jacob  Kohler,  Sen 5  o 

Jacob  Kohler,  Jun i        15  o 

Ulrich  Flickinger i  3  o 

Jacob  Mickly,  Sen 2  5  o 


82 

£       s.  d. 

Nicolaus  Mark .  .  17  6 

Peter  Steckel 3         o  o 

Jacob  Schreiber 2        10  o 

Nicolaus  Allemann 12  6 

Jacob  Flickinger i          o  o 

Peter  Flickinger 9  o 

Jacob  Moritz 3  o 

Michael  Neuhart,  Sen i          2  o 

Michael  Neuhart,  Jun 10  o 

Johannes  Moritz 4  6 

Nicolaus  Draxel 2          o  o 

George  Leibenguth 5  o 

Johannes  Hoffmann 2        10  o 

Jacob  Miller i          o  o 

George  Koehler 13  o 

Engelbert  Hoffmann 16  6 

George  Flickinger 4  o 

Bastian  Miller 5  o 

Martin  Mickly 2  6 

Christoph  Kern 3  o 

Peter  Siegfried 3  o 

Frederick  Neuhart i  6 

Peter  Neuhart. i     *     6 

45  5         o 

Peter  Burkhalter  added 15        10 

Total  Receipts £  46         o       10 

The  above  was  signed,  May  29,  1771,  by  J.  D.  Gros,  Abr. 
Blumer,  Michael  Neuhart,  Jacob  Mickly,  Jacob  Miller  and  Nicolaus 
Marck. 

In  this  year,  1767,  Paul  Balliet  represented  this  charge  as 
a  delegate  at  the  meeting  of  Coetus,  and  it  is  recorded  that  ten 
shillings  was  paid  him  to  ride  to  Coetus,  presumably  for  his 
expenses. 

In  1768,  Rev.  Gros  was  Secretary  of  Coetus  and  reported  a 
membership  of  twenty  families  at  Egypt,  having  baptized  nine, 
and  confirmed  41  in  the  four  congregations.  He  adds;  "In  each 
congregation  is  one  winter  school.  Two  congregations  are  served 
every  Lord's  Day." 

In  1769,  Rev.  Gros  was  President  of  Coetus.  In  that  year, 
quoting  from  the  minutes,  is  the  following :  *  *  Domine  Gros,  who 
is  much  beloved  by  the  Reverend  Coetus  as  well  as  by  his  charge 
at  Whitehall,  this  year  received  a  regular  call  from  two  large 
congregations  at  Saucon  and  Springfield,  which  last  year  already 
were  commended  to  the  Reverend  Fathers.     Domine  Gros  showed 


83 

considerable  inclination  to  accept  this  call,  and  complained  espe- 
cially on  account  of  the  unfitness  of  his  present  dwelling  at  White- 
hall. He  lives  in  a  very  poor  building,  also  at  a  place  where  no 
wholesome  water  can  be  had :  which  to  a  minister  in  this  country, 
who  has  nothing  to  drink  but  water,  may  be  a  chief  cause  for 
complaint,  especially  in  the  hot  summer  days,  when  through 
bad  water  one's  health  can  easily  be  impaired.  The  delegate 
from  Whitehall  (who  was  Peter  Roth,  of  Allentown)  was  ques- 
tioned concerning  this  and  replied,  that  the  congregations  at 
Whitehall,  were  well  satisfied  with  Domine  Gros,  and  that  they 
would  be  sorely  grieved,  if  they  were  forced  to  lose  him.  We 
resolved  to  leave  this  matter  to  the  decision  of  Domine  Gros,  that 
he  may  determine  for  himself  whether  he  could  leave  the  charge 
which  he  has  hitherto  had,  and  accept  the  call  to  Saucon  and 
Springfield.  Do.  Gros  thereupon  declared,  that  the  separation 
from  Whitehall  would  be  very  hard  for  him,  because  he  well  knew 
that  his  ministry  among  them  had  been  blessed  by  the  Lord  to 
the  good  of  many  souls,  and  for  the  future  even  more  was  to  be 
expected;  that  therefore  he  could  not  leave  these  congregations 
unless  Coetus  would  recommend  to  them  in  his  place  the  first 
capable  minister  whom  the  Reverend  Fathers  might  send  over. 
This  request  was  granted  in  the  hope  that  the  congregations  at 
Whitehall  would  see  to  it  that  their  future  pastor  need  not  make 
such  complaints." 

Rev.  Gros  is  reported  in  1769,  as  living  with  his  family  at 
Whitehall,  and  having  a  membership  of  34  families  and  baptized 
16  at  Egypt,  and  confirmed  30  in  the  whole  charge. 

In  the  Coetus  records  of  1770,  it  is  stated  that  the  resolution 
of  the  previous  year  in  regard  to  the  four  congregations  served 
by  Domine  Gros  was  confirmed.  The  resolution  is  as  follows: 
"That,  because  Domine  Gros  goes  to  Saucon  and  Springfield,  the 
congregations  which  he  leaves  shall  be  supplied  by  the  first  capable 
minister  who  may  be  sent  to  us  by  the  Christian  Fathers,  in  order 
that  this  vineyard,  so  prone  to  turn  into  a  wilderness,  may  not 
again,  from  want  of  cultivation,  be  entirely  destroyed  and  become 
unfruitful." 

In  1769,  it  is  recorded  that  the  share  of  Egypt  congregation 
towards  the  pastor's  salary  was  18  pounds,  15  shillings  ($50.00). 
In  1770,  Rev.  Gros  reported  at  Egypt,  36  families,  10  baptized,, 
and  45  confirmed  in  the  whole  charge.     His  salary  was  70  pounds. 

Rkv.  John  Daniel  Gros,  D.  D. 

John  Daniel  Gros  was  born  at  Webenheim,  in  the  county  of 
Zweibrucken.  He  attended  the  Universities  of  Marburg  and 
Heidelberg,  went  to  Holland  to  arrange  to  be  sent  to  America 
by  the  deputies,  but  found  the  ship  ready  to  sail,  and  came  over 
without  waiting  for  them.  He  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  at 
Philadelphia,  Dec.  4,   1764.     The  Coetus  located  him  in  Whiter 


84 

hall,  where  he  labored  must  successfully,  and  the  people  became 
greatly  attached  to  him.  In  1769,  he  was  called  to  Saucon,  but 
so  great  was  his  attachment  to  his  charge  that  he  would  not  give 
them  up  until  they  had  a  pastor,  as  already  mentioned.  For  a 
time  he  served  both  charges,  although  quite  a  distance  apart. 
He  would  preach  in  his  old  charge  three  Sundays  and  the  fourth 
Sunday  in  Saucon  and  Springfield.  But  in  1770,  he  left  his  old 
charge,  giving  his  entire  time  to  Saucon.  In  1772,  he  complained 
to  Coetus  that  his  congregations  did  not  pay  his  salary.  Because 
of  their  want  of  love,  stubbornness,  neglect  of  church  worship  and 
failure  to  pay  his  salary,  he  therefore  accepted  the  next  year,  a 
call  to  Kingston,  N.  Y.,  where  he  was  pastor  from  1773  to  1783. 
He  was  pastor  of  the  German  Reformed  Congregation  in  New 
York  City,  from  1783  to  1795.  He  became  Professor  of  German 
Languages  at  Columbia  College,  1784- 1795;  of  Moral  Philosophy 
there,  178 7- 1795;  regent  of  the  University  of  New  York,  1 784-1 787. 
Columbia  College  gave  him  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  in 
1789.  He  died  May  27,  181 2.  He  published  the  first  great  book 
published  in  America  on  moral  philosophy,  entitled  "Natural 
Principles  of  Rectitude,  a  systematic  treatise  on  Moral  Phil- 
osophy," Philadelphia,  1795. 

Rev.  Abraham  Blumer  succeeded  Rev.  Gros  as  pastor  of 
the  Egypt  congregation. 

Rev.  Abraham  Blumer. 

Abraham  Blumer  was  born  at  Grabs,  then  in  the  canton  of 
Glarus,  Switzerland,  December  14,  1736.  (Old  Style.)  At  his 
baptism  on  December  19th,  his  sponsors  were  Magistrate  David 
Hildy,  Captain  General  John  Hildy,  Catharine,  wife  of  High 
Bailiff  Schmidt,  and  Anna  Blumer,  wife  of  a  relative.  His  father 
was  John  Jacob  Blumer,  minister  at  Betschwanden  and  Grabs, 
Switzerland,  who  died  in  1746,  and  his  mother  was  Salome  Shindler, 
of  Mollis.  His  grandfather,  John  Henry  Blumer,  was  Deacon  at 
Shwandi  and  Pastor  at  Grabs,  and  his  ancestors  held  offices  of 
distinction  in  Switzerland  for  generations,  the  genealogical  tablets 
of  the  family  running  back  to  Othmar  Blumer,  who  was  Church 
Steward  at  Shwanden,  in  the  sixteenth  century.  Of  his  four 
brothers,  three  died  in  military  service,  one  as  Major,  one  as 
Ensign,  and  one  as  cadet,  and  one  died  on  his  voyage  to  America. 

Abraham  Blumer  matriculated  at  Basle,  August  i,  1754. 
He  was  ordained  June  8,  1756.  He  became  chaplain  of  a  Swiss 
regiment,  in  the  service  of  the  King  of  Sardinia,  July  11,  1757, 
remaining  in  it  until  1766,  when,  according  to  Rev.  Dr.  Good,  he 
entered  the  teaching  profession  in  his  canton.  He  became  vicar 
to  a  sickly  minister  and  also  private  tutor.  Rev.  Mr.  Planta, 
the  pastor  of  the  German  Reformed  church  at  London,  wrote  a 
letter,  June  26,  1770,  to  the  deputies,  strongly  urging  his  appoint- 
ment.    He  appeared  before  the  deputies  August  22,  with  Rev. 


Charles  Lewis  Boehme,  and  also  before  the  classical  committee, 
August  27,  1770.  He  left  Amsterdam,  September  6,  1770.  He 
arrived  at  New  York  the  latter  part  of  January,  1771.  He 
appeared  before  the  Coetus  in  February,  and  in  that  month  took 
charge  of  the  four  congregations  in  Whitehall  charge,  one  of 
which  was  Egypt.  In  the  records  of  Unionville  church,  he  wrote 
the  date  of  his  taking  charge  of  the  congregation  February  17, 
1 77 1.  His  first  baptism  at  Egypt  was  on  June  2,  1771.  In 
October,  1771,  Rev.  Blumer  attended  the  session  of  Coetus  and 
reported  a  membership  at  Egypt  of  forty  families.     In  1782  he 


Silhouette  of  Rev.  Abraham  Blumer. 

reported  38  families  at  Egypt,  14  baptized,  12  confirmed  and  one 
school,  with  53  pupils.  In  1785  the  report  was  very  full,  and  gave 
at  Egypt  44  families,  23  baptized,  14  confirmed,  and  one  school, 
with  46  pupils.  The  yearly  salary  is  given  as  one  hundred  pounds, 
with  twenty  pounds  perquisites,  and  ninety-five  pounds  expenses. 
Rev.  Blumer  was  a  well-educated  man  and  was  possessed  of 
considerable  ability  and  scholarship.  In  1774,  he  received  a 
call  from  the  French  Reformed  church,  of  New  York  City,  which 
he  declined  in  a  letter  written  in  the  French  language.  (See 
Dubb's  Reformed  church  in  Pennsylvania.)  He  was  clerk  of 
Coetus  in  1773  and  1784,  and  president  in  1774  and  1785.  In 
1785,  he  purchased  a  tract  of  195  acres  along  the  Jordan  at  the 
present  "Iron  Bridge,"  on  which  a  house  built  by  him  still  stands. 


86 

He  was  pastor  here  for  thirty  years,  until  May,  1801,  when  old 
age  compelled  him  to  resign.  He  retired  to  his  home  where  he 
died  April  23,  i'82  2,  at  the  age  of  85  years,  and  was  buried  at  the 
Jordan  Reformed  church.  During  his  pastorate  he  baptized 
2517  children  and  confirmed  1137.  The  last  entry  in  his  hand- 
writing in  the  Egypt  records  is  dated  May  17,  1801. 

During  Rev.  Blumer's  pastorate,  the  second  church  was  built. 
The  cornerstone  was  laid  June   13,    1785,   and   the  church  was 
dedicated  June  4,  1786.   The  cost  was  ^893.0  s.  3^  d.  ($2,381.73). 
At  the  same  time  an  organ  was  installed  into  the  church  at  a  cost 
oi  £  154.  2  s.  9  d.  ($411.04). 

Facsimile  of  Rev,  Blumer's  signature. 

The  two  congregations,  prior  to  erecting  the  new  building, 
entered  into  an  agreement,  of  which  the  following  is  a  translation: 
"This  1 8th  of  April,  Anno  Domini,  1785,  we,  the  members 
of  the  Evangelical  Reformed  and  the  Evangelical  Lutheran 
congregations,  belonging  to  the  parish  of  Egypt,  in  Whitehall 
township,  Northampton  county,  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania, 
have  bound  ourselves  and  agreed  to  erect  a  new  stone  church, 
50  feet  long  and  40  feet  broad,  for  joint  use,  and  we  herewith 
give  to  our  joint  architects,  chosen  for  that  purpose,  namely, 
Peter  Kohler,  Esq.,  Samuel  Saeger,  Philip  Jacob  Schreiber,  Adam 
Zerfass,  Jacob  Mickly  and  Nicholas  Saeger,  Sen.,  full  power  to 
place  the  above-mentioned  church  upon  one  of  the  most  suitable 
spots  on  our  joint  church  lands.  We  also  bind  ourselves  and 
each  other  to  contribute  to  the  requisite  and  necessary  expenses 
according  to  our  ability,  until  the  said  church  is  built  and  com- 
pleted, which  we  hereby  certify  to  with  our  own  signatures,  on  the 
above-mentioned  day  and  date." 

Peter  Kohler,  Philipp  Jacob  Schreiber, 

Samuel  Seeger,  Adam  Zerfass, 

Jacob  Mickly,  Heinrich  Steckel, 

NicoLAUs  Seeger,  Sen.,  Jacob  Meyer, 

Peter  Burkhalter,  Engelbert  Hoffmann, 

Peter  Deshler,  Wilhelm  Laury, 

Georg  KoehlEr,  Abraham  Hartmann, 

Johannes  Moritz,  Jacob  Kohler, 

Friedrich  Neuhart,  Caspar  Ritter, 

Johannes  Hoffmann,  Georg  Flickinger, 

Christian  Seeger,  Jacob  Fischer, 

Nicholas  Saeger  (Tanner),    Adam  Traxel, 
Daniel  Kern,  Johannes  Steckel, 

Johannes  Grob,  Jacob  Geiger, 


87 


Jacob  Laub, 
Michael  Neuhart, 
TheobaIvD  Herzog, 
Adam  Deshler, 
David  Neuhart, 
Johannes  Schantz, 
Jacob  Kern, 

Peter  Burkhalter,  Jun., 
Johannes  Meyer, 
John  Kern, 
Georg  Schad, 
Christoph  Kern, 
Jacob  Shantz, 
Adam  Scheurer, 
Jacob  Seeger, 
Johannes  Schad, 
Michael  Neuhart,  Jun., 
Peter  Neuhart, 
Peter  Hoffmann, 
Philip  KnappenbErger, 
Jacob  Mueller,  Sen. 
Heinrich  Ruch, 


Christian  Traxel, 
Jacob  Flickinger, 
Peter  Meyer, 
Jacob  Steckel, 
Peter  Kern, 
Georg  Remely, 
Philipp  Roth, 
NicoLAUS  Traxel, 
Johannes  Kocher, 
Sebastian  Mueller, 
Michael  Ringer,  Sen., 
Heinrich  Jehl, 
Andreas  Siegfried, 
NicoLAus  Herzog, 
Jacob  Hartmann,  Jun., 
Christian  Bertsch, 
Heinrich  Biery, 
Andreas  Fuchs, 
Andreas  Jehl, 
LoRENZ  Ruch, 
Martin  Mickly, 
Georg  Jacob  Schneck. 


Abr.  BlumER,  Minister. 
JoH :  Caspar  Dill,  Minister. 

The  laying  of  the  cornerstone  of  the  new  church  took  place 
June  13,  1785,  at  which  time  sermons  were  preached  by  Revs. 
Blumer  and  Shellhard,  before  a  large  assemblage  of  people,  and 
a  copy  of  the  following  resolutions  was  placed  in  the  cornerstone : 
"As  we,  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  and  Reformed  congregations 
in  Whitehall  township  (otherwise  called  Egypt),  have  agreed 
to  build  a  house  of  God  for  our  common  use,  therefore  have  we 
drawn  up  the  following  articles : 

I. 

No  minister  shall  be  admitted  into  the  church,  who  is  erro- 
neous in  doctrine,  or  is  scandalous  in  conduct,  or  who  was  not 
lawfully  called  to  the  ministry. 

n. 

Both  congregations  shall  have  an  equal  right  and  share  in 
this  church. 

in. 

In  order  to  guard  against  misunderstanding  and  dispute,  it 
is  established,  with  the  approbation  of  both  congregations,  that 
none  shall  obstruct  the  other  in  the  service  of  God,  but  each  shall 
hold  justly  to  its  alternate  time. 


88 

IV. 

All  repairs,  which  shall  become  necessary  to  this  house  of 
divine  worship,  shall  be  paid  jointly. 

V. 

The  consistories  of  the  congregations,  and  the  pastors  chosen, 
shall  conduct  the  congregations  to  the  best  of  their  abilities,  and 
keep  in  order  the  accounts  pertaining  to  the  church. 

Done  this  13th  of  June,  1785,  and  signed  with  our  own  sig- 
natures, by  us,  the  Architects,  Elders  and  Deacons  of  both  congre- 
gations, on  the  day  on  which  the  cornerstone  was  laid." 
Peter  Kohler,  Samuel  Saeger, 

Ph.  Jacob  Schreiber,  Adam  Zerfass, 

Jacob  Mickly,  Nicholas  Saeger, 

Michael  Neuhart,  Nicholas  Hertzog, 

Michael  Neuhart,  Jun.,  Jacob  Laub. 

John  Hoffman. 

Abr.  Blumer,  Pastor. 
Joh:  Caspar  Dill,  Pastor. 

The  treasurers  of  the  two  congregations,  Peter  Burkhalter, 
Esq.,  and  Samuel  Saeger  kept  accurate  and  detailed  accounts 
of  all  receipts  and  expenditures.  An  assessment  was  laid  upon 
each  member,  according  to  his  means,  which  amount  he  was 
required  to  pay.  The  members  of  the  Reformed  congregation 
were  assessed  as  follows: 

Peter  Kohler,  Esq.,  £  29;  Peter  Burkhalter,  Esq.,  £  29;  John 
Hoffman,  £  25;  Jacob  Mickly,  £  22;  Jacob  Kern,  £  22;  Adam 
Deshler,  £  22;  Elizabeth  Steckel,  widow  of  Peter  Steckel,  Henry 
Steckel  and  John  Steckel,  £  22;  Philip  Jacob  Schreiber,  £  20; 
Jacob  Kohler,  £  i^\  Peter  Kern,  George  Remely  and  Jacob  Miller, 
Sen.,  each  £  16;  Martin  Mickly  and  John  Schad,  each  £  15; 
Nicholas  Traxel,  £  i^\  Peter  Deshler,  Peter  Newhard  and  Philip 
Roth,  each  i^  13;  Frederick  Newhard,  George  Schad  and  Henry 
Biery,  each  i^  12;  Michael  Newhard,  Jun.,  John  Moritz  and  Jacob 
Flickinger,  each  ^  11 ;  George  Flickinger,  ^10;  Christopher  Kern, 
£  8,  10  s. ;  Peter  Meyer,  £  8;  Andrew  Siegfried,  £  7,  10  s. ;  Adam 
Traxel,  Daniel  Kern,  Engelbert  Hoffman  and  David  Newhard, 
each  £  7 ;  John  Grob and  Jacob  Hartman,  each  ^5,  10  s. ;  Michael 
Newhard,  Jacob  Steckel  and  John  Kocher,  each  £  5 ;  Peter  Hoff- 
man and  Sebastian  Miller,  each  £  4;  Martin  Meyer,  £  3,  10  s. ; 
Jacob  Meyer  and  Martin  Graff,  each  ^3;  Christian  Traxel,  £  i. 
ID  s. ;  George  Hartman,  ^  i.  2  s.  6  d.;  Jacob  Geiger,  £  i ;  John 
Kern,  Abraham  Hartman  and  Andrew  Keck,  each  15s.;  Philip 
Faust,  7  s.  6  d. ;  and  Adam  Kern,  3  s.  The  total  contribution  of 
the  Reformed  members  amounted  to  £  545.  2  s.  6^  d. 

The  members  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  were  assessed 
as  follows : 

George  Koehler,  ^  25 ;  Samuel  Saeger,  ^  22 ;  Christian  Saeger, 
£  22;  Lorenz  Ruch,  £  14;  Conrad  Leisenring,  ^12;  John  Meyer, 


89 

^  II ;  Nicholas  Saeger,  Sen.,  i^  lo;  Adam  Zerfass  and  Andrew  Fox, 
each  £  9;  Adam  Scheurer,  £  8.  10  s. ;  Caspar  Ritter,  Christian 
Bertsch  and  Theobald  Herzog,  each  £  8;  Jacob  Laub's  Executors 
and  Adam  Miller,  each  £  7.  10  s. ;  Michael  Ringer,  Sen.  and  Jacob 
Kretschman,  each  £  7 ;  Nicholas  Saeger  (son  of  Christian  Saeger) 
and  Andrew  Jehl,  each  £  6;  Nicholas  Herzog,  Jacob  Saeger, George 
Helferich  and  Jacob  Wolf,  each  £  5 ;  Henry  Ruch,  £  4;  Henry  Jehl, 
^3,  10  s.;  George  Jacob  Schneck  and  Michael  Deiber,  each  £  3; 
William  Laury,  Peter  Reng  and  Jacob  Shantz,  each  £  2 ;  Sybilla 
Leisenring,  widow  of  Conrad  Leisenring,  Sen.,  contributed  £  2; 
Philip  Knappenberger,  £  i.  17s.;  Michael  Ringer,  Jun.  and  George 
Miller,  each  £  10.  10  s. ;  Michael  Zellner,  £  i.  2  s.  6  d. ;  Margaret 
Meyer,  widow  of  Nicholas  Meyer,  contributed  £  i ;  Michael  Miller, 
John  Schantz  and  Philip  Kurtz,  each  15  s.;  Jacob  Fischer,  10  s.; 
and  George  Hausser,  3  s.  9  d.  The  total  contribution  of  the 
Lutheran  members  amounted  to  £  262.  17  s.  4  d. 

These  assessments  were  paid  in  installments,  and  interest 
was  collected  upon  overdue  installments.  Upon  the  occasion 
of  the  cornerstone  laying,  on  June  13,  1785,  there  was  collected 
;^  II.  12  s.  4  d.  On  June  16,  1785,  ten  pounds  alms  money  was 
received  from  the  Reformed  congregation.  Contributions  from 
non-members  were  received  as  follows : 

£       s.      d. 

Christian  Gilbert,  of  Lowhill  Township 7  6 

Caspar  Thomas,  of  Lowhill  Township 3  9 

Abraham  Duffield  &  Longstreet 7  6 

Gottfried  Knauss,  of  Northampton  Parish i          2  6 

Nicholas  Marcks,  formely  a  member  of  this   Parish,   now 

in 10  o 

John  Miller,  carpenter,  of  Allentown 7  6 

Jacob  Buchman,  of  Lehigh  Township i        16  o 

John  Henry  Geiger,  of  Heidelberg  Township 7  6 

Peter  Ealer,  Esq.,  Sheriff  of  Northampton  County 15  o 

Conrad  Ihrie,  of  Easton 10  o 

Adam  Heberly,  of  Jordan  Parish i          5  o 

Conrad  Marcks,  of  Northampton  Parish 10  o 

Theobald  Schaffer,  of  Lehigh  Township i          o  o 

Peter  Kuntz,  of  Lehigh  Township 10  o 

John  Roth,  of  Northampton  Parish 7  6 

John  Lichtenwalder,  of  Jordan  Parish 15  o 

Carl  Beyer,  Doctor,  of  Kutztown 17  7 

Joseph  Bossner,  shopkeeper 7  6 

Carl  Hornberger,  of  Lynn  Township 7  6 

Jacob  Kolb,  of  Northampton  Parish i          o  o 

David  Deshler,  of  Northampton  Parish 2          5  o 

John  Loeser,  now  of  Egypt  Parish 9  o 

Adam  Deshler,  of  Northampton  Parish i          4  o 

Michael  Kolb,  of  Northampton  Parish i        10  Q 

Total .^18       15  4 


90 

On  June  4,  1786,  at  the  dedication  of  the  church,  there  was 
collected  £  26.  2  s.  6  d. 

In  addition  to  this,  the  Reformed  congregation  collections 
(Allmosen)  amounted  to  ^  8.  17  s.  8  d.;  that  of  the  Lutherans  to 
^  4.  1 1  s.  5  d. ;  and  nails  were  sold  amounting  to  iJ  5.  i  s.  2  d.,  thus 
bringing  the  total  receipts  to  £  893.  3^  d. 

The  expenditures  in  building  the  church  were  as  follows: 

The  board  and  lodging  of  the  carpenters,  masons,  quarrymen 
and  mortar-carriers  at  1 5  pence  per  day,  the  account  of  which  was 
kept  by  Conrad  Schneider,  the  schoolmaster,  and  which  was 
furnished  by  Jacob  Mickly,  Henry  and  John  Steckel,  Peter  Kohler 
and  John  Hoffman,  amounted  to  ^  117.  3  s.  2  d. 

The  master  joiners,  John  Miller  and  George  Jacob  Newhard, 
agreed  to  do  the  carpenter  work  for  £  200,  Pennsylvania  Currency. 
The  total  cost  of  the  carpenter  work,  including  interest  on  the 
payments,  amounted  to  £  224.  11  s.  3^  d. 

Nicolaus  Ott,  of  AUentown,  agreed  to  do  the  mason's  work 
for  £  89.  5  s.,  Pennsylvania  currency.  The  total  paid  him, 
including  interest,  was  £  90.  9  s. 

The  smith's  work  was  done  by  Peter  Kern,  of  Whitehall 
township,  at  the  rate  of  14  pence  per  pound.  The  total  paid  him 
for  iron  supplied,  tools  sharpened  and  interest,  was  iJ  88.  1 1  s.  lod. 

The  shingles  were  purchased  from  Eyre  and  Wever,  of 
Philadelphia,  and  cost  i^  38.  5  s.  6  d. 

The  boards  were  of  white  fir,  pitch  fir,  white  pine  and  oak, 
and  were  purchased  from  Christian  Wirth,  Jacob  Mickly,  John 
Hoffman,  Michael  Strohl,  Michael  Ohl,  of  Penn.  township,  Abra- 
ham Duffield,  George  Gilbert,  Abraham  Sterner,  John  Moritz  and 
Peter  Schneck,  and  the  total  cost  was  £  76.  19  s.  9  d. 

To  the  following  quarrymen,  mortar  carriers  and  laborers, 
namely,  John  Merkel,  John  Schanz,  John  Hoffman,  Solomon 
Ringer,  Dietrich  Hartman,  Christian  Kaesebauer,  John  Meyer, 
Abraham  Hartman,  John  Loeser,  Jacob  Hauck,  Daniel  Roth, 
Jacob  Kraft,  Michael  Zoellner,  Conrad  Naas,  John  Kern  and  John 
Kohler,  at  three  shillings  per  day,  was  paid  ^^57.  19  s.  i  d. 

The  nails  were  bought  of  Wister  &  Co.,  in  Philadelphia; 
Gottfried  Roemelt,  in  Bethlehem;  Wm.  Gibbs  &  Co.,  in  Phila- 
delphia; John  Richards,  in  Philadelphia;  Christian  Heckewelder 
and  Abraham  Levering,  in  Bethlehem;  and  Peter  Rhoads,  in 
AUentown,  and  cost  ;^  31.  18  s.  3  d. 

The  paint  was  purchased  from  Henry  Epple  and  others  in 
Philadelphia,  and  cost  £  14.  18  s.  11  d. 

The  glass,  bought  in  Philadelphia  and  Bethlehem,  cost  £  24. 

The  lime,  bought  of  Samuel  Saeger  and  Theobald  Herzog, 
cost  £  2.  13  s.  4  d. 

For  hair,  bought  of  Philip  Roth,  Adam  Zerfass,  Simon 
Dreisbach,  Samuel  Saeger  and  Thomas  Mowharter,  was  paid 
^  I.  2  s.  6  d. 


91 

For  the  sawing  of  wood  by  Peter  Kohler  and  Jacob  Shantz, 
and  of  laths,  by  Frederick  Beck,  of  Lehigh  township,  was  paid 
£  22.  4  s.  2  d. 

For  brandy,  was  paid  ^  14.  12  s.  6  d. 

Among  the  miscellaneous  expenses,  were;  3  s.  9  d.  for  a  AA^hite 
pint  bottle,  put  in  the  cornerstone;  £  2.  16  s.,  for  1600  bricks  of 
.Charles  Colver,  of  Bethlehem;  ;^  i.  15  s.  9  d.,  for  travelling 
expenses  of  Henry  Bpple,  of  Philadelphia,  son-in-law  of  Peter 
Burkhalter,  Esq.,  who  painted  the  pulpit,  altar,  &c.,  without  charge ; 
^  I.  2  s.  6  d.,  to  Andrew  Leisenring  &  Co.  for  the  customary 
"  Trinkgeld,"  for  the  carpenter  apprentices;  for  Linseed,  £  11. 
14  s. ;  to  Jacob  Strein,  for  keeping  all  the  accounts,  ^  5.  3  s.  10  d. 
Total  ^87.  II  s. 

The  total  expenditures  amounted  to  £  893.  3^  d. 

On  August  9,  1 801,  the  accounts  were  closed  and  signed  by 
Rev.  Abraham  Blumer;  Peter  Burkhalter,  Trustee,  Elder  and 
Treasurer;  Philip  Jacob  Schreiber,  Trustee,  Elder  and  Architect ; 
Jacob  Mickly,  Architect  ;  Peter  Kohler,  for  his  father  Peter 
Kohler,  deceased;  and  Michael  Neuhard,  Nicholas  Kern  and  Jacob 
Meyer,  Deacons,  for  the  Reformed  congregation;  and  by  Rev. 
John  Casper  Dill ;  Nicholas  Saeger,  for  his  father  Christian  Saeger, 
deceased,  a  former  Trustee;  Nicholas  Seeger,  Trustee;  Nicholas 
Seeger,  for  his  father  Samuel  Seeger,  deceased,  Architect  and 
Treasurer;  Adam  Zerfassand  Nicholas  Seeger,  Architects;  Nicholas 
Saeger  and  Caspar  Ritter,  Elders;  and  George  Ringer,  John 
Saeger,  George  Keim  and  George  Smull,  for  the  Lutheran  congre- 
gation. 

The  Reformed  congregation  contributed  to  the  cost  of  the 
organ,  ^  71.  8  s.  2  d.,  which  was  contributed  by  the  same  persons 
who  contributed  to  the  cost  of  the  church,  with  the  addition  of 
Peter  Burkhalter,  Jun.,  John  Kohler  and  Peter,  son  of  Jacob 
Kohler. 

The  Lutherans  gave  ^  28.  15  s.  4  d.,  contributed  by  the  same 
members  previously  mentioned,  with  the  addition  of  George 
Smuir,  Adam  Knappenberger  and  Jacob  Musgenung. 

Others  who  contributed  were:  Gottfried  Knauss,  Daniel 
Roth,  John  Roth,  Jun.,  Conrad  Marcks,  Peter  Schoener,  John 
Roth,  Sen.,  George  Frederick,  Nicholas  Fox,  Michael  Kolb, 
George  Schreiber,  Stephen,  Frederick  and  Henry  Snyder,  David 
and  Adam  Deshler,  George  Miller  and  George  Yund,  of  the 
Northampton  parish  (Allentown) ;  George  Seem,  Frederick  Hauer, 
Sen.,  Daniel  Schwarz,  Simon  Dreisbach,  George  Riess,  Andrew 
and  George  Lilly,  Adam  Heckman,  Conrad  Kreider,  John  Sieg- 
fried, Michael  Bieber,  Adam  Schoener,  Frederick  Kleppinger, 
George  Edelman,  Christian  Hartman,  Anton  Kleppinger,  Michael 
Keiper,  George  Haas,  Frederick  Kratzer,  Henry  Beil,  Philip 
Faust  and  Adam  Laubach,  of  Allen  township;  Nicholas  Balliet, 
Jacob  Wirth,  Jacob  Fenstermacher,   Henry  Beyer,  John  Baer, 


92 

Martin  Andreas,  Michael  Remaly,  Peter  Siegfried  and  Jacob  Baer, 
Jun.,  of  Union  parish;  Jacob  Buchman,  Conrad  Herman,  John 
Seeger,  John  Bachman,  John  Alspach,  Conrad  Reiswig,  Abraham 
Leyenberger,  John  Heuckly,  Peter  Mufly,  Valentine  Ahnewald, 
Theobald  Schaeffer,  Peter  Kuntz,  Adam  Sold,  John  Schneider 
and  John  Gann,  of  Lehigh  township;  John  Miller,  Anton  Schaeffer, 
Caspar  Hunsicker,  John  Wassum  and  John  Keck,  of  Heidelberg 
township;  William  Meyer,  George  Meyer,  Peter  Traxel,  Jun., 
Daniel  Traxel,  Adam  Heberly,  John  Meyer,  George  Frederick 
Knauss,  John  Lehr,  Peter  Lehr,  Michael  Schneider,  Lorenz  Guth, 
Nicholas  and  David  Meyer,  Peter  Guth  and  John  Helferich,  of 
Jordan  parish ;  Nicholas  Bachman,  of  Lynn  township ;  Peter  Mertz 
of  Longswamp ;  Peter  Ealer,  Sheriff,  and  Conrad  Ihrie,  of  Easton ; 
John  Balliet,  Jacob  Dinky  and  Leonhard  Fischer. 

The  total  cost  of  the  organ  was  £  154.  2  s.  9  d.,  of  which 
£  145  was  paid  to  the  builder,  Dannenberg,  of  Lititz,  ^  3  to  his 
son  Samuel,  for  the  usual  "Trinkgeld,"  and  the  balance  for  the 
hauling  of  the  organ  from  Lititz,  board  of  two  organbuilders, 
postage,  etc. 

In  1787,  a  schoolhouse  was  built,  costing  iJ  100.  6  s.  2  d.,  to 
which  the  Reformed  side  contributed  ^  71.  10  s.  8  d.,  and  the 
Lutherans,  ^28.  15  s.  6  d. 

John  Hartman,  of  Upper  Milford,  received  £  2.  10  s.,  for 
building  the  cellar  walls;  John  Heyberger,  of  Upper  Milford, 
received  £  8.  10  s.  for  the  mason  work;  George  Jacob  Newhard, 
of  Allentown,  received  ^24.  18  s.  3  d.  for  building  the  two-story 
log  schoolhouse;  John  Leyenberger,  of  Lehigh  township,  received 
£  8  for  the  shingles;  the  boards  cost  £  22.  8  s.  9  d.;  paint,  glass, 
nails,  etc.,  ^  10.  11  s.  i  d.;  lime,  £  i.  16  s.  2  d.;  linseed-oil,^  i.  9  d., 
and  miscellaneous  expenses  were  ^8.  12  s.  10  d. 

Out  of  124  feet  of  lumber,  100  feet  of  which  was  bought  of 
John  Moritz  and  24  feet  given  by  Jacob  Mickly,  a  writing  table 
and  two  benches,  for  the  schoolroom  were  made,  without  charge, 
by  Philip  Jacob  Schreiber  and  Peter  Deshler. 

When  the  first  schoolhouse  at  Egypt  church  was  built,  or 
who  the  first  schoolmaster  was  is  unknown.  From  the  records 
we  find,  however,  that  John  Carl  Shribeler,  was  schoolmaster 
from  1774  to  1776.  Conrad  Schneider  was  schoolmaster  and  led 
the  singing  in  1785,  but  as  he  was  no  organist,  he  was  requested 
to  resign  in  1786,  and  Jacob  Strein  became  organist  and  school- 
teacher. He  resigned  in  1804  and  removed  to  Lancaster.  His 
successor  was  Henry  Hemsing,  of  Hamburg,  who  served  until 
1 8 10,  when  Adam  Gilbert  succeeded  him.  He  was  succeeded  in 
1822  by  Theodore  Storb,  who  served  several  years  and  then 
removed  to  Montgomery  county.  He  was  followed  by  John 
Daniel  Eisenbraun,  who  served  till  1829.  Christian  Schick  then 
served  until  1836,  when  John  Bernd  became  organist  and  school- 
teacher.    He  resigned  in  1846  and  was  succeeded  by  Francis  G. 


93 

Berndt,  who  served  for  41  years,  until  1887.  He  was  succeeded 
by  Robert  A.  Benner,  who  died  in  1901.  His  successor,  WilHam 
H.  Snyder,  was  elected  February  9,  1902,  and  still  holds  the 
position. 

In  1 801  the  four  congregations  sold  the  parsonage  and  land 
purchased  in  1767  and  bought  a  house  and  25  acres  of  land  from 
Michael  Kern. 

Rev.  John  Gobrecht. 

Rev.  John  Gobrecht,  son  of  Rev.  John  Christopher  Gobrecht, 
who  became  the  successor  of  Rev.  Blumer,  was  born  in  Lancaster 
county,  December  10,  1773.  He  studied  under  Melsheimer, 
Stoeck  and  Hendel.  He  is  said  to  have  been  of  a  peculiarly 
mild  and  affectionate  disposition,  and  was  greatly  beloved  by 
all  who  knew  him.  He  lived  on  a  farm  but  a  short  distance  from 
here,  on  the  road  to  Ballietsville.  He  was  pastor  at  Egypt  for 
thirty  years.  The  last  entry  in  the  record  book  in  his  handwriting 
is  dated  February  15,  1831.  He  died  March  5,  1831,  and  is 
buried  here  in  the  churchyard. 

His  first  wife  was  Hannah  Troxel,  who  died  March  12,  181 9, 
aged  32  years,  5  months  and  7  days,  leaving  eight  children.  He 
married  a  second  time  a  Mrs.  Hall,  with  whom  he  had  two  children. 

His  successor  in  the  pastorate  was  Rev.  Joseph  S.  Dubbs. 

Rev.  Joseph  S.  Dubbs,  D.  D. 

Joseph  S.  Dubbs  was  born  October  16,  1796,  at  the  family 
homestead,  in  Upper  Milford  (now  Lower  Milford)  township, 
Lehigh  county.  Pa.  He  was  the  youngest  son  of  Daniel  Dubbs 
and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  a  daughter  of  Martin  Schwenk,  of  Mont- 
gomery county.  His  grandfather,  Jacob  Dubs,  a  native  of  the 
parish  of  Birmansdorf,  near  Zurich,  came  to  America  in  1732 
and  secured  from  the  Penn  family  a  tract  of  land  on  one  of  the 
branches  of  the  Perkiomen  Creek,  where  he  erected  a  small  forge 
and  engaged  extensively  in  the  manufacture  of  guns  and  agri- 
cultural implements.  His  wife,  Veronica,  was  the  eldest  daughter 
of  John  George  Welker,  who  appears  to  have  speculated  exten- 
sively in  land.  The  business  which  Jacob  Dubs  founded,  was 
enlarged  by  his  only  son,  Daniel,  who  in  course  of  time  erected 
a  group  of  rustic  industries.  Besides  the  forge  he  owned  a  mill, 
saw  mill,  oil  mill,  cutlery  (schleifmuehle),  tannery  and  a  large 
farm.  He  was  the  first  to  build  a  brick  house  within  the  limits 
of  Lehigh  county,  the  brick  for  the  building  being  pianufactured 
on  his  own  land.  He  was  for  many  years  an  elder  of  the  Great 
Swamp  Reformed  church,  and  of  his  six  sons  five  became  elders 
and  one  was  a  minister  of  the  Gospel. 

Joseph,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  early  acquired  consider- 
able mechanical  skill,  but  also  manifested  talent  in  other  directions. 
He  took  naturally  to  music  and  learned  to  play  on  several  instru- 


94 

ments;  so  that  he  was  able  to  earn  a  part  of  the  expenses  of  his 
education  by  conducting  singing  schools.  For  some  time,  he 
attended  a  Quaker  school  in  Chester  county,  for  the  purpose  of 
becoming  more  familiar  with  the  English  language. 

Having  determined  to  prepare  himself  for  the  ministry,  he 
placed  himself  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  F.  L.  Herman,  D.  D., 
who  prepared  many  candidates  for  his  profession.  The  school 
which  he  conducted  was  popularly  know  as  the  "Swamp  College." 
For  four  years,  he  was  under  Dr.  Herman's  instruction,  and  in 
1822,  was  licensed  to  preach  the  Gospel,  with  special  authority 
to  administer  the  sacraments.  In  September,  1823,  he  was 
regularly  ordained. 

During  this  period  occurred  the  division,  which  led  to  the 
organization  of  the  Free  Synod  of  Pennsylvania.  Though 
ordained  by  this  body  he  always  regretted  the  division  and  took 
the  lead  in  the  measures  which  led  to  reunion.  In  1836,  he  was 
the  chairman  of  the  commission  by  which  this  work  was  accom- 
plished. 

His  first  charge  consisted  of  the  Windsor  and  Weiss  churches, 
in  Berks  county,  of  which  he  assumed  the  pastorate  in  1822. 
In  1824  the  Eppler's  church,  and  in  1826  the  Hain's  church  were 
added  to  the  field. 

Dr.  Dubbs  was  warmly  attached  to  his  first  charge,  but  it 
proved  exceedingly  laborious.  His  churches  were  situated  almost 
in  a  straight  line  for  a  distance  of  almost  thirty  miles.  In  reaching 
his  most  distant  appointments  he  was  compelled  to  cross  three 
streams,  the  Schuylkill,  the  Antelauny  and  the  Tulpehocken. 
There  were  no  bridges  over  these  streams  in  those  days,  and  in 
winter  he  was  often  compelled  to  cross  them  at  the  peril  of  his  life. 

In  1 83 1,  he  accepted  a  call  from  this  charge  in  Lehigh  county, 
consisting  of  the  Allentown,  Egypt,  Union  and  Jordan  churches. 
There  had  been  four  candidates  for  the  pastorate  of  this  charge, 
and  at  first  there  was  some  disagreement,  particularly  in  Allen- 
town,  where  a  second  congregation  was  organized,  which  after 
three  years  returned  to  the  parent  body.  The  first  baptism 
recorded  by  him  at  Egypt  is  dated  August  28,  1831.  Dr.  Dubbs, 
remained  pastor  of  the  entire  charge  until  1861,  assisted  in  Allen- 
town,  in  later  years,  by  his  son,  Alfred,  and  the  Rev.  C.  R.  Kessler. 
At  various  times,  he  also  preached  at  Rittersville,  Cedarville 
and  Morgenland.  After  retiring  from  the  Allentown  church  in 
1 86 1,  he  continued  to  preach  to  the  other  congregations  of  his 
charge  until  1868,  when  he  resigned  and  removed  to  Allentown, 
where  he  lived  in  retirement  until  his  death,  which  occurred  April 
14,  1877. 

The  honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred 
upon  him  in  1866,  by  FrankHn  and  Marshall  College. 

Dr.  Dubbs  was  twice  married;  the  first  time  to  Susan  Getz, 
a  daughter  of  Nicholas  Getz,  of  Berks  county;  the  second  time 


95 

in  1837,  to  Mrs.  Eleanor  Murphy,  a  daughter  of  David  Lerch 
and  his  wife  Eleanor  Jones.  By  the  first  marriage  he  had  three 
children;  Alfred,  who  became  a  minister  and  is  well  remembered, 
and  two  daughters  who  were  respectively  married  to  Owen  L. 
Schreiber  and  James  O.  Shimer.  By  the  second  marriage  he  had 
two  sons,  Joseph  Henry,  who  has  been  for  many  years  a  professor 
in  the  college  at  Lancaster,  and  a  prominent  historian  of  the 
Reformed  church,  and  Silas,  who  died  in  childhood. 

A  leading  trait  in  the  character  of  Dr.  Dubbs  was  supreme 
regard  for  the  demands  of  duty.  Nothing  could  induce  him  to 
miss  an  engageijient  and  he  kept  the  records  of  his  ministry  with 
the  utmost  care.  He  preached  over  eight  thousand  sermons; 
baptized  7,065  infants  and  adults;  attended  2778  funerals;  and 
solemnized  2,176  marriages.  In  the  general  affairs  of  his  denom- 
inations, he  took  a  profound  interest;  and  at  a  meeting  of  the 
Classis  of  East  Penna.  prepared  and  offered  the  resolution  which 
finally  led  to  the  preparation  of  the  "Order  of  Worship."  In  an 
extant  letter  the  late  Dr.  Schaff  calls  him  "the  father  of  the 
German  hymn  book"  because  he  first  suggested  its  publication. 
Socially  he  was  unusually  genial  and  for  many  years  was  the 
friend  and  adviser  of  his  people  in  secular  no  less  than  in  religious 
affairs.  Few  ministers  have  been  regarded  and  remembered  by 
their  people  with  such  profound  affection. 

Rev.  Samuel  A.  IvEinbach,  A.M. 

On  the  22nd  of  September,  1867,  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Leinbach, 
A.  M.,  preached  his  first  sermon  in  Egypt  church,  and  in  1868  was 
elected  pastor  of  the  congregation.  Rev.  Leinbach,  is  the 
youngest  son  of  the  late  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Leinbach,  of  the  Tulpe- 
hocken  charge,  in  Lebanon  county,  who  had  been  a  fellow  student 
and  a  life-long  friend  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  S.  Dubbs,  D.  D.  Rev. 
Leinbach  was  educated  in  the  public  schools,  the  Myerstown 
Academy,  Swatara  Institute,  Franklin  and  Marshall  College, 
where  he  graduated  in  the  class  of  1864,  and  the  Mercersburg' 
Theological  Seminary,  where  he  completed  his  course  in  the 
spring  of  1867. 

"Father  Dubbs,"  as  he  was  fondly  called  by  his  parishioners, 
had  served  the  Egypt  Reformed  congregation  for  a  period  of  37 
years,  when,  on  account  of  the  infirmities  of  age,  he  resigned, 
recommending  Rev.  Leinbach  as  his  successor,  and  giving  him 
his  kindly  help  and  hearty  support.  On  the  2nd  of  February, 
1868,  Rev.  Leinbach  preached  his  introductory  sermon,  selecting 
for  his  text  Hebrews,  13th  chapter  and  17th  verse.  A  committee 
appointed  by  the  East  Pennsylvania  Classis,  consisting  of  Revs. 
Drs.  J.  S.  Dubbs,  Strassburger  and  Loose,  installed  him  into  the 
pastorate,  in  the  month  of  May,  the  latter  preaching  the  sermon. 
Rev.  Leinbach  was  then  in  his  twenty-fourth  year. 


Rev.  Samuel  A.  Leinbach,  A.  M. 


97 

Services  were  now  held  regularly,  every  two  weeks,  instead 
of  every  four  as  had  been  the  custom,  but  Rev.  Leinbach  having 
two  vacant  Sundays  in  a  month,  and  eager  for  more  work,  was 
requested  by  the  Classis  to  preach  in  the  Public  School  Building, 
in  the  growing  town  of  Slatington,  with  a  view  of  gathering 
material  for  a  congregation  in  that  place.  After  one  year's 
service  he  retired  to  make  room  for  another  brother,  by  whom 
an  organization  was  effected,  which  soon  became  self-supporting 
and  is  now  in  a  very  flourishing  condition. 

For  a  number  of  years  he  also  assisted  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  R. 
Hofford,  in  preaching  to  an  unorganized  congregation  in  the 
Public  School  Building  at  Coplay,  the  place  of  his  residence. 
Largely  through  his  labors,  with  the  aid  of  B.  S.  Levan,  Superin- 
tendant  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  Iron  Company  and  Owen  L. 
Schreiber,  a  son-in-law  of  Rev.  Dubbs,  a  congregation  was 
organized  and  Rev.  Leinbach  chosen  as  its  pastor.  A  neat  church 
was  erected  and  dedicated  on  June  15,  1873,  ^.nd  being  a  daughter 
of  the  Egypt  church,  it  was  added  to  the  charge.  In  the  year 
1869  he  also  held  services  in  Laury's  schoolhouse,  and  succeeded 
in  organizing  a  congregatiofi,  of  material  mostly  belonging  to  the 
Egypt  church.  This  congregation  was  organized  on  the  12th  of 
May,  1872,  and  on  Sept.  14,  1874,  the  so-called  Miller's  church 
was  dedicated.  This  congregation  was  also  added  to  the  Egypt 
charge,  so  that  it  consisted  of  three  congregations,  which  Rev. 
Leinbach  served  to  the  end  of  his  pastorate,  preaching  his  last 
sermon  in  the  charge  on  December  23,  1883. 

After  having  served  the  charge  for  a  period  of  sixteen  years, 
he  resigned  January  i,  1884,  to  accept  a  call  from  the  Leesport 
charge,  near  Reading.  During  his  pastorate  in  Egypt,  he  baptized 
about  six  hundred,  officiated  at  356  funerals,  married  146  and 
confirmed  384.  Twelve  of  those  confirmed  by  him  became 
ministers  of  the  Gospel,  and  five  others  were  influenced  by  him 
to  study  for  the  ministry.  There  are  comparatively  few  congre- 
gations, if  any,  from  which  such  a  large  number  of  ministers  of 
the  Gospel  have  come.  During  his  pastorate  in  1874,  the  church 
building  was  remodelled  and  re-dedicated  on  November  11,  1874. 
Rev.  Leinbach  now  resides  in  Reading. 

Rev.  Wm.  R.  Hofford,  D.D. 

The  late  Rev.  William  R.  Hofford,  D.  D.,  was  elected  pastor 
on  December  15,  1883,  and  entered  upon  his  duties  January  i, 
1884.  Rev.  Hofford,  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Hofford,  was 
born  May  8,  1833,  in  Upper  Saucon  township,  Lehigh  county, 
and  confirmed  October  12,  1850,  in  Zion's  Reformed  church, 
Allentown.  His  preliminary  education  was  obtained  in  the  public 
schools,  qualifying  him  to  become  a  teacher  in  a  district  school. 

In  1 85 1,  he  was  admitted  as  a  scholar  in  the  Allentown 
Seminary;  in  1855,  he  was  graduated  in  Franklin  and  Marshall 


m^'m^. 


Rev.  Joseph  S.  Dubbs,  D.  D. 


Rev.  Wm.  R.  Hofford,  D.  D. 


Rev.  Geo.  P.  Stem. 


^9 

College,  Lancaster;  and  in  1857,  in  the  Theological  Seminary, 
at  Mercersburg,  Pa.  After  his  graduation,  he  accepted  the 
appointment  of  teacher  of  Latin  and  Greek  in  Cumberland  Valley 
Institute,  Mechanicsburg,  Pa.,  which  position  he  held  for  several 
years.  He  was  Hcensed  May  12,  1858,  to  the  Gospel  ministry. 
For  one  year  he  filled  the  position  as  teacher  of  Ancient  Languages 
in  the  Allentown  Seminary.  He  subsequently  became  principal 
and  continued  in  this  service  to  1864.  He  was  ordained  and 
installed  February  i,  1863,  as  pastor  of  Lower  Saucon  congre- 
gation. In  the  following  year,  Williams  township  congregation 
was  added  to  his  charge,  and  he  continued  to  serve  these  two 
congregations  until  1869.  He  supplied  the  congregation  at 
Freemansburg,  from  May  i,  1869  to  September  29,  1872,  and 
also  South  Whitehall,  from  May  3,  1863.  In  1867,  he  was  elected 
professor  of  Latin  Language  and  Literature  in  Muhlenberg  College. 
In  1868,  he  was  elected  President  of  Female  College  in  Allentown, 
which  he  filled  with  credit  to  himself  for  five  successive  years. 
In  1883,  he  was  called  to  the  Egypt  charge,  which  he  served 
until  the  close  of  his  life,  a  period  of  seventeen  years.  He  preached 
his  last  sermon  on  the  5th  of  November,  1900.  After  suffering 
several  years,  with  rheumatism,  his  ailment  finally  culminated 
in  apoplexy.  He  died  January  31,  1901,  at  the  age  of  67  years, 
5  months  and  23  days.  The  funeral  service  was  held  February 
4th,  and  his  mortal  remains  were  buried  in  Union  cemetery, 
Allentown,  Pa. 

Rev.  George  P.  Stem,  A.  M. 

Rev.  George  P.  Stem,  a  son  of  the  late  William  and  Eliza 
Kemmerer  Stem,  was  born  at  Cherry ville,  Northampton  Co., 
Penna.,  and  spent  his  boyhood  at  Stemton,  Pa.,  now  a  part  of 
the  Borough  of  Alliance,  where  his  father  was  interested  in  the 
Stemton  Car  Works. 

He  received  his  early  education  in  the  public  schools  of 
Stemton,  the  Weaversville  Academy,  under  Prof.  Edward  Kummer, 
and  the  Preparatory  Department  of  Muhlenberg  College.  Entering 
the  College  as  a  freshman,  September,  1882,  he  continued  his 
studies  here  until  the  end  of  the  Junior  year,  entered  the  Senior  Class 
of  Franklin  and  Marshall  College,  Lancaster,  Pa.,  September, 
1885  and  graduated  in  June,  1886. 

He  engaged  in  the  profession  of  teaching,  and  for  two  terms 
taught  the  Grammar  School,  at  Slatington,  Pa. 

He  entered  the  Eastern  Theological  Seminary  at  Lancaster, 
Pa.,  the  opening  of  the  fall  term,  in  1888,  graduating  in  May, 1 891, 
and  was  examined  and  licensed  by  Lehigh  Classis.  Having 
received  and  accepted  a  call  from  the  Littlestown  charge,  Gettys- 
burg Classis,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  on  the  evening 
of  July  5,  1 89 1,  by  a  committee  consisting  of  Rev.  J.  C.  Bowman, 
D.  D.,  Rev.  W.  E.  Krebs,  D.  D.  and  Rev.  F.  C.  Lindaman.      His 


lOO 

pastorate  of  nearly  eight  years  marked  an  increase  in  church 
membership,  benevolent  contributions  and  improvement  of  the 
parsonage  and  church  building. 

Rev.  Stem  became  the  assistant  to  the  late  Dr.  W.  R.  Hof- 
ford,  by  whom  he  had  been  confirmed  at  the  Mickley's  church,  and 
upon  his  death  became  his  successor  of  the  Egypt  charge,  consisting 
of  the  Egypt,  Miller  and  Cementon  congregations.  He  was  installed 
as  pastor,  Trinity  Sunday,  June  2,  1901,  by  the  Rev.  S.  G.  Wagner, 
D.  D.,  Rev.  A.  R.  Bartholemew,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  T.  J.  Hacker,  D.  D. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Stem,  the  evening  communion 
and  English  services  were  introduced,  as  also  the  envelope  system, 
and  100  hymn  books  procured  for  the  use  of  the  congregation. 
The  offerings  of  the  charge  for  benevolence  were  doubled.  The 
extensive  church  improvements  are  described  in  detail  under 
another  head. 

In  June,  1891,  he  married  Elizabeth  Laubach,  daughter  of 
the  late  Adam  and  Caroline  Laury  Laubach.  Three  children 
were  born  to  them,  Laury  George,  Karl  Kemmerer  and  Caroline 
Laubach  Stem. 


Reformed  Pastors  at  Egypt  Church,  i  734-1908. 

John  Philip  Boehm 1734 

John  Henry  Goetschius 1 736-1 739 

John  Philip  Boehm 1741 

John  Conrad  Wuertz 1742-1744 

Michael  Schlatter 1747 

John  Philip  Boehm 1749 

John  Jacob  Wissler 1752-1754 

Unknown 1754-1764 

John  Daniel  Gros 1 764-1 770 

Abraham  Blumer 1771-1801 

John  Gobrecht 1801-1831 

Joseph  S.  Dubbs 1831-1868 

Samuel  A.  Leinbach 1868-1883 

William  A.  Hofford 1884-1901 

George  P.  Stem 1901- 


Rev.  J.  D.  ScHiNDEL,  D.  D. 


History  of  the  Lutheran  Congregation 
of  Egypt  Church. 

By  Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel,  D.  D. 


A  sketch  of  the  Lutheran  congregation,  of  Egypt  Church, 
can  not  well  be  presented  without  at  least  a  reference  to  the 
locality  of  the  church,  Egypt  itself,  with  its  extremely  interesting 
history.  Nor  would  it  be  just  to  make  no  mention  of  the  sister 
Reformed  congregation  which  occupies  at  this  time,  1908,  and 
has  occupied,  in  peace  and  harmony,  with  the  Lutheran  congre- 
gation, the  three  Union  Church  buildings  for  over  one  hundred 
and  forty-four  years.  So  also  we  can  simply  allude  to  the  erection 
of  the  three  church  buildings  and  their  repairing  and  remodeling 
from  time  to  time,  up  to  this  date.  The  same  is  true  with  the 
organists,  organs,  school-houses,  schools,  improvements  to  the 
burial  grounds,  the  acquisition  of  the  land  belonging  to  the  church, 
and  a  great  many  other  matters  of  interest  and  importance.  A 
separate  sketch  is  necessary  for  these  and  we  must  confine  our- 
selves to  the  history  of  the  Lutheran  wing  of  the  Egypt  Church. 

As  is  only  too  frequently  the  case,  the  records  of  the  Lutheran 
congregation  here,  were  also  found  to  be  very  meager  and  incom- 
plete. The  earliest  communion  list  found,  bears  the  date  1803, 
1 8th  Sunday  after  Trinity.  It  is  stated  that  the  communion  was 
held  in  "the  Organ  Church,  in  Whitehall."  Because  the  Egypt 
Church  had  in  its  use  a  pipe  organ,  it  was  often  called  the  "organ" 
church.  At  this  communion,  administered  no  doubt  by  Rev. 
John  Caspar  Dill,  who  was  then  the  regular  pastor,  there  were  (32) 
thirty-two  communicants.  In  this  list  of  thirty-two  communi- 
cants, we  find  the  names  of  three  Nicholas  Saegers;  they  were, 
Nicholas  Saeger,  Esq.,  Nicholas  Saeger,  Jr.  and  Nicholas  Saeger, 
the  son  of  Samuel  Saeger.  There  is  also  on  hand  a  record  of 
baptisms  from  1778  to  1843.  The  Reformed  congregation  of 
Egypt  has  such  a  record  which  goes  back  to  1 734.  This  book  for 
baptisms  was  presented  to  the  Lutheran  congregation  by  Mr. 
Christian  Bertsch,  on  November  27,  1784.  Mr.  Bertsch  came  into 
the  congregation  from  Northampton  County,  where  he  was  born 


I03        ■■■;..  ^.^'-s^^j^-', 

and  raised.  He  was  an  active,  faithful  member  of  the  congrega- 
tion and  was  the  ancestor  of  the  different  Bertsch  famihes,  who 
are  now,  and  have  been,  connected  with  the  Egypt  Lutheran 
congregation  for  over  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  years.  Mr. 
Bertsch  was  born  in  1756,  died  in  181 9  and  is  buried  at  Cherryville. 
The  first  baptism  recorded  in  this  book  is  that  of  Samuel  Saeger, 
a  son  of  Nicholas  Saeger,  Esq.  and  his  wife  Barbara.  He  was  born 
in  Egypt,  April  17,  1778  and  was  baptized  on  May  17,  of  the  same 
year,  no  doubt  by  Rev.  Daniel  Lehman.  His  sponsors  were 
Daniel  Staery  and  wife  Elizabeth. 

From  the  most  reliable  records  and  documents,  we  learn  that 
the  Lutheran  congregation  did  not  exist  before  1757.  There  were 
of  course  Lutherans  in  and  around  Egypt  long  before  this  date. 
The  Saeger  family  was  one  of  the  first  and  most  prominent. 
Nicholas  Saeger  came  to  Egypt  from  the  Upper  Palatinate,  Ger- 
many, in  1733.  His  name  was  really  John  Nicholas.  He  was 
the  ancestor  of  the  Saegers  still  connected  with  the  Egypt 
Lutheran  congregation  as  well  as  of  the  Saegers  well  known  in 
Lehigh  County  and  Allen  town.  He  and  his  immediate  descen- 
dants, as  the  records  showed,  took  a  very  active  and  prominent 
part  in  the  welfare  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  at  Egypt.  In 
1737,  already  he  was  established  and  was  the  owner  then  of  two 
hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  in  the  vicinity  of  Egypt.  He  died 
in  1762.  His  son  Samuel  was  married  in  1752  to  Anna  Eva,  the 
daughter  of  Frederick  Eberhard.  Some  of  the  land  on  which 
the  church  building  of  1785  stood,  was  secured  from  Christian 
Saeger  by  exchange,  and  Samuel  and  Christian  Saeger  were 
trustees  when  that  second  church  building  was  erected  in  1785. 
Another  pioneer,  some  of  whose  descendants  are  still  connected 
with  the  congregation,  was  George  Ringer.  He  lived  within  the 
bounds  of  the  congregation  as  early  as  1748.  The  woodland  which 
belongs  to  Egypt  Church,  was  purchased  of  him  in  1802,  half  an 
acre  of  which  woodland  he  gave  the  church  as  a  present.  He  was 
a  stone  mason  by  trade.  The  Ruch  family  is  another  prominent 
pioneer  family.  In  the  old  graveyard  of  Jordan  Lutheran  Church 
is  still  found  at  this  date,  1908,  a  brown  sandstone,  in  a  good  state 
of  preservation,  on  which  we  find  this  inscription:  "Here  rests 
George  Ruch,  born  in  Alsace,  Zinzendorf,  in  1664.  He  died  in 
the  year  1769;  his  age  is  104  years,  11  months."  In  connection  with 
the  organization  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  of  Lehigh  Church, 
near  Alburtis,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.,  we  find  in  the  year  1750  the  name 
of  George  Ruch.  No  doubt  this  was  the  same  man  who  was  the 
ancestor  of  the  Ruch  family  so  long  and  so  well  known  in  the 
Lutheran  congregation  at  Egypt.  The  family  of  Adam  Scheurer 
and  wife  Catharine  Elizabeth  is  also  one  of  the  early  families. 
Their  son  Daniel  was  born  October  27, 1778,  and  baptized  Novem- 
ber 15,  of  same  year,  no  doubt  by  Rev.  Daniel  Lehman.  Nicholas 
Hertzog  and  his  wife  Maria  Catharine  were  the  sponsors.     Their 


^  104 

descendants  are  still  identified  with  the  congregation.  From  an 
old  certificate  of  baptism  the  writer  of  this  sketch  saw  that  Rev. 
Theophilus  Emanuel  Franz  baptized  the  later  well-known  John 
Jacob  Scheurer,  the  son  of  Adam  Scheurer  and  wife  Catharine 
Elizabeth,  on  November  24,  1782,  in  Egypt.  The  Ritter  family 
is  still  well  represented  in  the  congregation.  As  early  as  1791,  we 
find  that  Philip  Ritter  and  his  wife  had  their  son  John  Philip, 
baptized  on  February  13th.  Caspar  Ritter  and  his  wife  Ottilia 
were  the  sponsors  and  no  doubt  Rev.  Jacob  Van  Buskirk  baptized 
the  child.  When  the  writer  of  this  sketch  took  charge  of  this 
congregation,  in  the  spring  of  1888,  and  had  completed  his  list  of 
membership,  he  found  that  he  had  sixty-two  Ritter  names,  most 
of  whom  are  still  in  the  congregation.  The  Leisenring  family  is 
perhaps  the  best  known  early  family  of  the  Lutheran  congregation 
of  Egypt  Church.  Johann  Conrad  Leisenring  was  the  progenitor 
of  all  the  Leisenrings  in  the  United  States.  He  came  into  the 
vicinity  of  Egypt  evidently  as  early  as  1771,  when  he  purchased 
the  Joseph  Showalter  farm  and  gave  it  the  Leisenring  name.  The 
farm  continued  in  that  name  for  one  hundred  and  thirty-five  years, 
when  it  was  sold.  The  distinguished  ancestor  is  buried  in  the  old 
cemetery  at  Egypt  and  his  tombstone  tells  us  he  was  born  in 
Europe,  June  29,  1727,  and  died  near  Egypt  on  August  14,  1781. 
A  few  of  the  family  are  still  in  the  congregation  at  Egypt.  The 
Leisenring  family  was  intermarried  with  the  well-known  Laury 
family,  one  of  whose  most  distinquished  members  was  the  late 
Hon.  David  Laury,  of  Laury's  Station.  From  the  earliest  records 
of  baptism  that  we  have  of  the  Egypt  Lutheran  congregation, 
found  in  the  diary  of  Rev.  Daniel  Schumacher,  the  first  pastor  of 
the  congregation,  we  take  the  following  referring  to  the  Laury 
family:  "In  Egypt,  June  19,  1763,  Jacob,  son  of  Michael  Laueri 
and  wife  Barbara.  Sponsors  were — Jacob  Flickinger  and  Salome 
Newhard, Jacob  Miller  and  wife  Rebecca  Elizabeth." 

Time  and  space  forbid  any  reference  to  the  later  families  of 
the  congregation,  although  such  reference  would  be  just  as 
interesting  and  important.  No  doubt  the  early  families  of  the 
congregation  prior  to  1765,  attended  service  when  the  Reformed 
congregation  had  such,  and  Hkely,  at  communion  seasons,  they 
went  as  far  as  Upper  Saucon,  Blue  Church,  Macungie,  Jordan 
or  other  regularly  organized  Lutheran  congregations  though  at 
some  distance  from  Egypt.  In  the  records  of  the  Blue  Church, 
Upper  Saucon,  it  is  stated  that  in  1740,  children  were  brought  to 
this  church  from  Egypt  to  be  baptized.  In  1757,  on  May  3rd,  the 
records  of  the  same  church  show  that  Johann  Ahrenbold  Eberhard, 
of  Egypt,  was  married  to  Anna  Margaretta  Weber,  of  Lower 
Saucon,  a  daughter  of  Frederick  Weber. 

The  Egypt  Lutheran  congregation  has  steadily,  though  at 
times  slowly,  increased  from  its  small  beginning  in  membership 
until  it  has  become  one  of  the  largest  country  congregations  in 


I05 

the  county,  if  not  in  this  section  of  the  state.  Though  the  organ- 
ization of  a  Lutheran  congregation  at  Cementon  in  1900,  took 
away  at  least  one  hundred  of  its  members,  yet  in  these  eight 
years  the  congregation  has  again  gained  more  than  that  number. 
The  sketch  of  the  church  itself  will  also  show  the  continued 
improvements  made  to  the  property  itself,  belonging  to  the 
two  congregations.  It  is  but  just  to  say  that  the  congregation 
has  advanced  decidedly  in  liberality,  churchliness  and  we  hope 
also  in  piety.  The  offerings  for  benevolence  are  more  than  four 
times  as  much  as  they  were  twenty  years  ago,  and  the  congrega- 
tion has  always  taken  part  in  this  good  work  of  the  church.  As 
early  as  18 14,  Rev.  F.  W.  Mendsen,  then  pastor,  makes  record 
of  the  fact  that  on  August  21,  of  that  year,  the  congregation 
contributed  the  sum  of  $29.64  for  the  benefit  of  the  Orphan's 
Home,  at  Halle,  Germany,  after  it  had  been  greatly  damaged  by 
the  ravages  of  war.  The  congregation  has  always  stood  in  con- 
nection with  the  Ministerium  of  Penna.  If  not  by  any  special 
formal  action  or  constitutional  provision,  then  certainly  by  the 
constant  representation  at  the  annual  meetings  by  delegates 
from  the  congregation.  As  early  as  1769,  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Ministerium  in  Philadelphia,  June  25  to  27,  representatives  came 
from  Egypt  to  confer  with  Rev.  H.  M.  Muhlenberg,  so  also  in 
1785,  at  the  meeting  held  in  Philadelphia,  May  22  to  24,  certain 
delegates  appeared  from  Egypt,  Heidelberg  and  Union  Churches 
and  asked  that  Rev.  Schellhardt  be  ordained  as  their  pastor. 
The  request  was  not  granted.  In  1786  the  request  was  repeated 
and  the  Ministerium  declined  again.  Rev.  Mendsen  at  times 
became  indifferent  and  independent  as  to  Synodical  connection 
but  when  Rev.  Thomas  Steck  became  pastor  at  Egypt  the  old 
relation  was  fully  re-established  and  has  continued  so  ever  since. 
In  1 82 1  the  Lutheran  Conference  held  its  meeting  in  Egypt 
Church,  as  also  in  1840,  1868,  1875  and  in  1885.  In  the  Fall  of 
1885  a  large  Missionary  meeting  was  held  here.  Revs.  Drs.  Mann, 
C.  W.  Schaeffer,  S.  A.  Repass  and  A.  R.  Home  were  the  principal 
speakers.  At  this  same  meeting  the  woman's  Home  and  For- 
eign Missionary  Society,  of  the  Ministerium  of  Penna,  had  its 
beginning  and  initial  meeting.  Mrs.  Artman,  the  widow  of  the 
late  Rev.  H.  G.  Artman,  Missionary  to  India,  had  returned  to 
America,  was  present  and  took  an  active  part  in  the  meeting 
and  in  the  organization  of  the  society  which  has  since  been  so 
active  and  accomplished  so  much  good.  The  missionary  spirit 
created  by  this  meeting  also  resulted  in  the  formation  of  the 
Egypt  Lutheran  Missionary  Society  which  is  still  active  and 
prosperous.  This  was  during  the  incumbency  of  Rev.  J.  S. 
Renninger. 

The  congregation  has  also  the  great  satisfaction  of  having 
in  the  ministry  of  the  gospel  a  goodly  number  of  her  sons.  They 
are,  as  nearlv  as  can  be  ascertained,  the  following:     Rev.  Prof. 


io6 

F.  K.  Bernd,  now  of  Kutztown,  Pa.;  Rev.  A.  J.  Long,  of  Stouchs- 
burg,  Pa. ;  Rev.  J.  H.  Kuder,  of  Lehighton,  Pa. ;  Rev.  H.  J.  Kuder, 
of  Siegfried,  Pa.;  Rev.  A.  J.  L.  Breinig,  departed;  Rev.  C.  F. 
Kuder,  for  a  second  time  a  Missionary  in  India;  and  Rev.  O.  S. 
Scheirer,  of  Stony  Run,  Pa.  As  will  be  noticed,  the  congregation 
can  point  to  something  more  than  ordinary  in  this  line.  Out  of 
one  of  its  families,  the  Kuder  family,  its  three  sons,  John,  Hiram 
and  Calvin  are  in  the  ministry. 

The  history  of  the  Egypt  Lutheran  congregation  will  become 
still  more  interesting  as  we  follow,  in  regular  order,  the  history 
of  its  successive  pastors. 

Rev.  John  Joseph  Roth. 

It  is  claimed  that  Rev.  John  Joseph  Roth,  who  was  serving 
the  newly  organized  Lutheran  congregation,  of  Allentovrn,  then 
known  as  Northampton,  in  1763,  was  the  first  regular  pastor  of 
the  Lutheran  congregation  of  Egypt  Church  and  had  served  the 
same  until  1769.  This  is  of  course  an  error,  for  Rev.  Roth  died 
in  1764  and  was  buried  May,  13,  1764,  in  the  graveyard  of  the 
Blue  Church,  near  Coopersburg,  in  Upper  Saucon,  Lehigh  County. 
He  was  never  a  regular  pastor  at  Egypt,  but  the  connection  of 
his  name  with  the  Lutheran  congregation  there  can  be  accounted 
for  in  two  ways.  In  1763  the  Indian  troubles  took  place  near 
Egypt.  With  these  troubles  he  was  largely  identified,  had 
raised  a  company  for  defence  and  became  the  captain  of  the  same. 
In  October  of  1763,  when  the  Lutheran  Ministerium,  or  Synod 
of  Penna,  met  in  Philadelphia,  he  could  not  attend  on  account 
of  these  Indian  troubles  and  was  excused.  His  intimate  con- 
nection with  these  troubles  no  doubt  brought  him  to  Egypt  and 
vicinity.  Being  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Egypt  Church,  he 
may  have  been  called  upon  to  discharge  ministerial  acts  fre- 
quently and  was  thus  handed  down  by  tradition  as  a  regular 
pastor.  But  there  is  another  reason  that  may  have  connected 
him  with  the  Egypt  Lutheran  congregation.  At  this  time,  1760 
to  1763,  we  are  reliably  informed,  there  was  an  effort  made  to 
build  a  church  in  the  vicinity  of  what  we  now  know  as  Helfrich's 
Springs.  Burials  had  taken  place  there  and  the  old  site  of  this 
graveyard  remained  until.  1895  when  it  was  demolished,  the 
tombstones  removed  and  the  land  taken  into  cultivation.  The 
land  is  now  owned  and  cultivated  by  Mr.  Tilghman  G.  Helfrich, 
a  descendant  of  the  old  Helfrich  family.  In  the  possession  of 
Mr.  Helfrich  is  a  tombstone  which  bears  this  inscription — "Anna 
Catharine  Miller, — born  in  the  year  1733,  ^^^^  Aug.  18,  1775." 
This  lady  was  a  near  relative  of  the  late  Joshua  Miller,  of  Lower 
Catasauqua,  and  of  the  late  Peter  Miller,  of  near  Mickley's,  who 
were  both  of  the  founders  of  Mickley's  Church,  almost  sixty 
years  ago,  and  who  were  both  baptized  and  confirmed  in  Egypt 


I07 

Church.  The  preaching  for  this  prospective  church  at  Helf rich's 
Springs  and  the  regular  reUgious  services  were  held  in  an  old 
grist  mill  which  still  has  a  successor  at  that  same  place  and  is 
now  owned  and  worked  by  Mr.  Thomas  Helf  rich.  But  now, 
1763,  a  Lutheran  congregation  was  organized  in  the  town  of 
Northampton,  Allentown,  only  two  miles  away  from  Helfrich's 
Springs.  It  is  easily  seen  that  the  project  therefore  at  the  latter 
place  had  to  be  abandoned.  Rev.  Roth  became  the  first  pastor 
of  this  newly  organized  Lutheran  congregation  at  Allentown 
and  no  doubt  had  preached  for  the  people  at  Helfrich's  Springs. 
Many  of  the  families  also  interested  in  this  project  came  from 
the  vicinity  of  Egypt  and  went  to  church  services  there,  such 
as  the  Ringers,  some  of  the  Roths,  the  Eberhards,  Millers,  Sherers 
Schadts  and  others.  Coming  in  constant  contact  with  Rev. 
Roth  he  appeared  as  their  regular  pastor.  Besides,  we  know 
that  Rev.  Schumacher  was  at  Egypt  as  early  as  1757  and  thus 
Rev.  Roth  could  not  have  been  a  regular  pastor  there. 

Rev.  Daniel  Schumacher.    • 

From  the  private  record  or  diary  of  Rev.  Schumacher  which 
is  now  with  the  Archives  of  the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary, 
Mt.  Airy,  Philadelphia,  we  gathered  many  interesting  and 
important  facts.  This  diary  was  given  to  the  writer's  father, 
Rev.  Jeremiah  Schindel,  by  one  of  Schumacher's  descendants, 
in  Weisenburg,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.  In  1754  he  came  from  Nova 
Scotia,  by  way  of  New  York,  to  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  labored  until  1774.  It  is  claimed  that  he  was  in  Reading  as 
early  as  1751  and  was  the  first  pastor  to  begin  the  record  of 
Trinity  Lutheran  Church  of  Reading.  He  certainly  labored 
there  in  1755-58.  It  is  also  claimed  that  he  was  licensed  by  the 
Ministerium  of  Penna.,  in  1754  which  claim  after  proper  investi- 
gation, can  not  be  substantiated.  He  was  not  a  member  of  the 
Ministerium.  He  came  to  Salzburg  Church  in  January,  i759» 
as  the  records  show.  From  these  private  records  we  see  that  he 
labored  at  Egypt  as  early  as  1757,  as  already  shown.  In  August 
30,  1757  he  baptized  in  Whitehall,  Egypt,  Catharine,  a  daughter 
of  Hans  Nicholas  Koch  (Kooch)  and  wife  Anna  Catharine.  The 
sponsors  were  Abraham  Ely  and  wife  Catharine.  On  May  18, 
1758,  he  baptized  Catharine  Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  Nicho- 
las Hertzog.  According  to  his  dairy  he  confirmed  a  class  of 
Catechumens  in  Egypt  in  1760,  one  in  1762,  one  in  1765  and  one 
again  on  Good  Friday,  1767.  He  calls  the  Egypt  Church  the 
"Lehigh  Church,"  a  name  given  to  it  from  the  very  beginning. 
We  find  no  positive  traces  of  him  as  serving  Egypt  regularly 
after  1767.  In  his  diary  he  mentions  having  confirmed  classes 
in  "Lehigh  Township"  in  1769,  1771  and  1773.  We  are  inclined 
to   think  that   this   was   "Lehigh   Township,"   of   Northampton 


io8 

County,  or  our  present  Cherry ville  or  Indianland.  He  records 
a  baptism  from  that  place — "Feb.  lo,  1760,  Maria  Magdalena, 
daughter  of  Andreas  Schitterly  and  wife  Catharine  Margretta. 
The  sponsors  were,  WilHam  Best  and  Regina  Wannamacher." 
He  also  records  the  following  baptisms:  "In  Northampton, 
May  21,  1758,  Maria  Barbara,  a  daughter  of  Henrich  Busch  and 
wife  Anna  Maria.  Sponsors  were  Anna  Barbara  Schaus.  This 
baptism  was  administered  at  Easton,  Pa.,  and  it  is  noted  that 
Schumacher  preached  for  the  first  time  in  Easton  during  this 
visit.  "In  Lehigh  Church,"  that  is  Egypt,  November  25,  1759, 
Johann  Peter,  son  of  Johann  Peter  Koch  and  wife  Catharine, 
sponsors:  Carl  Kress  and  wife  Juliana  (Drachsel).  "In  Egypt," 
February  11,  1760,  Anna  Maria,  daughter  of  Hans  Nicholas 
Hertzog  and  wife  Maria  Catharina,  sponsors:  Christopher  Baehr 
and  Anna  Maria  Wirth;  John  Schad  and  Catharina  Wedder. 
"In  Egypt,"  Feb.  11,  1760,  Johann  Juerg  (George),  son  of  Juerg 
Ringer  and  wife  Christiana,  sponsors:  Michel  and  wife  Margretta. 
"In  Egypt"  September  7,  1760,  Johann  Nicholas  Saeger,  3  weeks 
old,  son  of  Samuel  Saeger  and  wife  Anna  Eva,  sponsors:  Johannes 
Nicholas  Fuchs,  Nicholas  Saeger,  Juliana  Drachsel  and  Margretta 
Hertzog.  In  connection  with  this  baptism,  Schumacher  states 
that  Egypt  is  one  of  his  regular  congregations.  He  served  16 
congregations  at  this  time.  It  is  claimed  that  Rev.  Schumacher 
served  Weisenburg  in  1757.  He  must  have  continued  to  serve 
this  congregation  to  his  end  for  his  remains  are  buried  in  the 
Weisenburg  Church  graveyard.  The  many  Schumacher  families 
of  Weisenburg  and  Lowhill  are  his  descendants.  The  name  is 
generally  written  now  Shoemaker. 

Rev.  Jacob  Van  Buskirk. 

Rev.  Jacob  Van  Buskirk  was  no  doubt  the  second  regular 
pastor  of  Egypt  Lutheran  congregation.  He  was  the  son  of 
Captain  Jacob  (some  say  Lawrence)  Van  Buskirk  and  was  of 
Hollandish  descent.  This  fact,  later  on,  enabled  Rev.  Van  Bus- 
kirk to  render  very  valuable  services  to  Patriarch  Muhlenberg. 
He  formed  a  kind  of  union  between  the  Dutch  of  New  York  and 
the  Germans  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  born  at  or  near  Hack- 
ensack,  N.  J.,  on  February  11,  1739.  In  the  years  1751  and 
1752  when  Muhlenberg  was  often  in  New  York  and  Hackens^ck, 
N.  J.,  Captain  Van  Buskirk  was  a  member  and  also  an  officer  of 
the  Dutch  Lutherar^  Church,  of  New  York  City.  Muhlenberg 
was  a  very  intimate  friend  of  the  Van  Buskirk  family.  We  are 
told  that  he  visited  them  frequently  and  even  held  preaching 
services  in  their  home,  when  they  and  neighboring  families  had 
gathered  for  that  purpose.  His  influence  no  doubt  induced 
young  Van  Buskirk  to  study  for  the  ministry.  The  preparatory 
education  of  Van  Buskirk  was  conducted  by  his  pastor  the  Rev. 


tj[j3nr 


^Nlv^ 


o^^r^r^ 


109  Vo^      OF 

J.  A.  Weygandt.  He  also  studied  for  a  time  at  Princeton  College, 
and  finally  December  31,  1760,  he  went  to  Philadelphia ;  and  from 
this  time  on  until  his  ordination,  on  October  12,  1763,  he  was 
under  the  care  and  direction  of  Muhlenberg  himself.  It  is 
claimed  that  VanBuskirk  was  the  first  native  born  American  to 
enter  the  Lutheran  ministry.  He  was  married  March  15,  1764, 
to  Anna  Marie  Hollenbach.  His  first  charge  was  "New  Hanover 
and  Pikestown  beyond  the  Schuylkill."  In  1765  he  was  called 
to  St.  Michael's,  Germantown.  In  1769  he  came  to  Lehigh,  then 
Northampton  County.  In  Allentown,  then  called  Northampton, 
he  served  from  1769  to  1778.  He  also  served  Macungie,  now 
"Lehigh"  Church  near  Alburtis,  Saltzburg,  Milford,  Upper  Saucon 
and  Egypt.  In  1783  we  find  him  in  Kunkletown,  Pleasant  Valley, 
Monroe  County.  He  came  to  Egypt  the  latter  part  of  1769,  did 
not  remain  long,  however,  this  time,  and  came  back  again  and 
served  the  congregation  a  second  time  from  1789  to  1799.  He 
likely  left  Egypt  the  first  time  in  1770  when  he  was  followed  by 
Rev.  John  George  Yung  who  had  come  to  Jordan  in  1769. 

In  a  letter  written  April  16,  1782,  by  Rev.  Emanuel  Schultze, 
then  president  of  the  Ministerium  of  Penna.,  to  Rev.  Henry  Mel- 
chior  Muhlenberg  then  living  at  the  Trappe,  Rev.  Schultze  says 
he  had  "received  a  letter  from  the  congregation  in  Allen  Township, 
Northampton  County,  in  which  they  request  the  continued  services 
of  Rev.  Mr.  Van  Buskirk."  We  can  not  determine  whether 
Van  Buskirk  supplied  this  congregation  from  Saltzburg  and 
Macungie,  for  he  was  no  longer  at  Egypt  nor  at  Allentown.  What 
congregation  this  could  have  been  in  Allen  Township  is  not  easy 
to  determine  either.  It  may  have  been  our  Cherryville,  as  we 
find  Van  Buskirk  in  Kunkletown  in  1783  and  that  is  not  far  away 
from  Cherryville.  The  same  letter  of  Rev.  Schultze  states  that 
Rev.  Theophilus  Emanuel  Franz  was  serving  congregations  at 
this  time  not  far  away  from  Van  Buskirk.  Now,  at  this  time, 
1782,  we  know  that  Rev.  Franz  was  at  Jordan  and  Egypt.  We 
know  of  a  certainty  that  Van  Buskirk  was  at  Egypt  from  1789 
to  1799.  In  the  old  records  of  the  Egypt  Church  is  seen  that  it 
was  customary  for  the  pastor  and  his  church  council  to  audit 
the  current  expense  account  and  sign  their  names  to  the  same. 
The  audit  of  January  i,  1801,  is  signed  by  Rev.  Johann  Caspar 
Dill  and  his  church  council.  The  one  of  October  19,  1 799,  for 
they  seem  to  have  been  made  only  every  few  years,  was  signed 
by  Van  Buskirk  and  his  church  council,  so  also  the  audit  of 
October  22,  1796,  August  20,  1794,  and  September  12,  1789  were 
signed  the  same  way.  Before  this  last  date  we  do  not  find  these 
signatures,  so  that  we  can  see  that  Van  Buskirk's  second  term 
of  service  at  Egypt  extended  from  1789  to  1799.  Besides,  in 
1875  we  buried  Peter  Eberhard,  a  deaf  and  dumb  man,  at  Mick- 
ley's  Church  to  which  place  the  Eberhard  family  had  moved 
after  leaving  Egypt.     From  his  baptismal  certificate  we  learned. 


no 

as  also  from  the  old  record  for  baptisms  in  Egypt  Church,  that 
Peter  Eberhard  was  baptized  on  September  i,  1799,  at  Egypt, 
by  Rev.  Van  Buskirk. 

So  successful  and  acceptable  was  Van  Buskirk's  ministry 
in  Lehigh  County  that  when  he' received  a  call,  in  1793,  to  become 
pastor  of  three  Lutheran  congregations  in  Bucks  County,  at 
Upper  Dublin,  Whitpain  and  Gwynedd,  these  congregations 
here  refused  to  call  a  successor  so  that  he  would  return  again. 
He  really  did  so  and  seems  to  have  cared  for  both  charges,  for 
in  1799  he  was  back  again  altogether  in  Bucks  County.  For  a 
long  time  he  lived  on  his  farm  in  Lower  Macungie,  Lehigh  County. 
In  1792  he  sold  the  farm  to  Christopher  Andres,  the  great-grand- 
father of  Rev.  W.  J.  Andres,  of  Bath,  Pa.,  and  moved  to  Macungie, 
then  called  Millerstown.  In  this  place  he  owned  a  tarinery  which 
after  his  death  passed  into  the  hands  of  his  son-in-law,  Mr.  John 
Singmaster,  the  grandfather  of  Rev.  J.  A.  Singmaster,  D.  D., 
president  of  the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary,  at  Gettysburg, 
Pa.  He  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  ability,  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Ministerium  of  Pa.,  a  member  of  the  first  Board 
of  Trustees,  of  Franklin  College,  now  Franklin  and  Marshall 
College,  of  Lancatser,  Pa.  He  excelled  especially  as  a  catechist 
and  possessed  wonderful  power  of  personal  magnatism.  Whilst 
serving  his  last  charge,  the  three  congregations  in  Bucks  County, 
already  mentioned,  he  died  suddenly  on  August  5,  1800,  while 
on  his  way  on  horseback  to  an  appointment.  He  had  preached 
the  Sunday  before,  in  the  yellow  church.  He  is  buried  in  the 
cemetery  near  the  Lutheran  Church,  of  North  Wales,  formerly 
known  as  Gwynedd,  where  his  grave  can  still  be  seen.  His 
age,  when  he  died,  was  61  years,  5  months  and  26  days. 

Rev.  John  George  Yung. 

Rev.  Van  Buskirk  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John  George 
Yung.  He  evidently  came  to  Egypt  in  1771  and  remained  until 
1773.  He  preached  at  Union  and  Jordan  churches  from  1769 
to  1773.  At  Jordan,  he  built,  in  1770,  the  log  part  of  the  old 
parsonage,  in  which  the  writer  of  this  sketch  was  born.  Under 
Yung  also  was  built  the  second  (stone)  church  at  Jordan  which 
stood  until  1842,  when  the  present  edifice  was  erected.  The 
corner  stone  of  this  second  church  is  embodied  in  the  wall  of  the 
present  building  and  may  be  seen  over  the  door  leading  into 
the  basement.  The  first  church  had  been  a  log  building  and  it 
seems  that  during  Yung's  administration  this  log  building  was 
torn  down  and  the  material  used  in  erecting  the  log  parsonage. 
During  these  building  operations  at  Jordan,  Patriarch  Muhlenberg 
paid  a  visit  to  Rev.  Yung,  who  was  on  very  intimate  terms  of 
friendship  with  Muhlenberg.  The  people  of  Jordan  were  very 
poor,  and  asked  Muhlenberg  to  try  and  help  them  in  their  work. 


Ill 

At  the  meeting  of  the  Ministerium  of  Penna.  in  New  Han- 
over, November  4-6,  1768,  Yung  first  appeared  as  a  candidate 
for  the  ministry.  He  had  been  sent  from  London  in  the  same 
year,  by  a  Rev.  Dr.  Wachsel.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Ministerium 
in  Philadelphia,  June  25-26,  1769,  he  was  still  candidate  although 
already  stationed  at  Jordan.  His  son  John  Peter  Yung  was 
also  examined  at  Philadelphia  in  1769,  although  no  record  of 
his  ordination  later  is  found.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Ministerium 
in  Reading,  October  25,  1770,  Yung  (J.  G.)  was  finally  ordained. 
With  him  were  ordained,  at  the  same  time.  Christian  Streit,  F. 
A.  and  H.  E.  Muhlenberg,  the  two  youngest  sons  of  Patriarch 
Muhlenberg.  These  two  sons  had  just  returned  from  Halle, 
Germany,  where  they  had  been  educated.  In  1773,  Yung  was 
called  to  Hagerstown,  Maryland,  and  was  yet  there  in  1786.  In 
1782,  Muhlenberg  writes  of  him  as  follows:  "The  Rev.  Mr.  Yung 
in  Maryland  is  a  man  who  labors  diligently  and  faithfully,  and 
as  pastor  of  a  number  of  churches,  is  reported  as  one  who  is  prompt 
in  attention  to  his  duties."  It  is  claimed  that  Yung  died  in 
Virginia  in  1793. 

Rev.  Daniei^  Lehman. 

Rev.  Lehman  evidently  came  to  Egypt  in  1774,  the  year  in 
which  he  was  licensed  by  the  Ministerium  of  Penna.  Jordan  and 
Egypt  were  still  served  by  the  same  pastors.  Lehman  was  a 
man  of  superior  ability.  He  was  educated  in  Germany,  and 
when  he  came  to  America  in  1773,  he  was  too  poor  to  pay  for 
his  passage  over  the  ocean  and  had  to  be  sold  as  a  redemptioner. 
Rev.  J.  C.  Kunze,  D.  D.,  of  Philadelphia,  a  finely  educated  Luth- 
eran pastor,  paid  his  passage  and  set  him  free.  He  afterwards 
had  Lehman  to  assist  him  in  teaching  and  instructed  him  in 
theology.  Lehman  served  later  as  tutor  in  the  family  of  Van 
Buskirk  and  was  ordained  by  the  Ministerium  of  Pa.,  at  New 
Hanover,  May  25,  1777,  after  having  been  licensed  for  three 
consecutive  years.  He  was  still  at  Jordan  and  Egypt  in  1778, 
but  in  that  year  he  left  and  removed  to  Reading  where  he  remained 
until  1780.  He  left  here  in  1781  and  went  to  Moselem,  Berks 
County,  where  he  remained  until  1794.  In  1797  to  1801,  he  is 
back  again  in  Reading.  In  1801  he  returned  again  to  Moselem 
and  remained  there  until  his  death,  October  2,  18 10.  He  is 
buried  at  Moselem. 

Rev.  Theophieus  Emanuel  Franz. 

Mr.  Franz  appeared  at  the  meeting  of  the  Ministerium  of 
Penna,  at  New  Hanover,  October  4,  1778,  and  was  granted  a 
license  to  preach.  The  same  was  renewed  1779  whilst  he  was  at 
Tulpehocken.  On  October  4,  1780,  he  began  serving  Jordan. 
At  the  meeting  of  the  Ministerium  in  1781,  he  was  still  in  White- 


112 

hall,  and  on  recommendation,  his  license  was  continued.  He 
left  Jordan  likely  in  1783  and,  from  all  appearances,  in  rather  a 
disorderly  manner.  At  least  the  people  of  Jordan  complained 
about  him  in  that  year,  at  the  meeting  of  the  Ministerium.  That 
he  served  Egypt,  at  this  time,  we  think  is  reasonable  to  believe, 
because  Jordan  and  Egypt  were  still  connected  in  the  same  charge 
and  no  doubt  served  by  the  same  pastor. 

Besides,  from  certain  records  already  referred  to,  we  learn 
that  on  November  24,  1782,  he  baptized  in  Egypt,  John  Jacob 
Scheurer,  the  son  of  Adam  Scheurer,  who  was  a  regular  member 
of  Egypt  Church. 


Rev.  Herman  Jacob  Scheli^hardt. 

Rev.  Schellhardt  seems  to  have  had  a  rather  checkered  course 
of  life.  He  was  serving  Egypt  as  pastor  in  1784,  1785  and  1786. 
He  made  the  address  on  behalf  of  the  Lutherans  at  the  corner 
stone  laying  of  the  second  church  building  which  took  place 
June  13,  1785,  the  pastor  of  the  Reformed  congregation  present 
being  Rev.  Abraham  Blumer.  At  Union  Church  he  served  as 
pastor  until  1791,  and  records  show  that  he  labored  in  Jordan  in 
1785.  He  may  have  been  in  Egypt  until  Van  Buskirk's  second 
term  began  in  1789.  He  had  preached  in  Weisenberg  from  1770 
to  1778  and  was  the  first  pastor  of  the  so-called  "Dreisbach" 
Church  in  Buffalo  Valley,  Union  Co.,  Pa.,  where  many  German 
Lutherans  had  settled  as  early  as  1770.  He  evidently  labored 
independently  of  any  sy nodical  connection.  From  the  records 
of  the  Ministerium '  of  Pa.,  we  learn  that  at  the  meeting  of  the 
same,  in  Philadelphia,  May  22-24,  1785,  delegates  came  from 
Egypt,  Heidelberg  and  Union  Churches  and  asked  that  Mr.  Schell- 
hardt might  be  ordained  as  their  pastor.  The  request  was  not 
granted  because  most  of  the  members  of  the  Ministerium  did 
not  know  him  well  enough.  In  1786,  at  Philadelphia,  the  request 
was  repeated  and  declined  again.  In  1787,  at  the  meeting  of  the 
Ministerium  in  Lancaster,  a  complaint  was  handed  in  that  Rev. 
Lehman  had  given  Schellhardt  a  license  to  preach.  The  Minis- 
terium made  Lehman  take  back  that  certificate  and  disapproved 
of  his  course  in  the  matter.  Schellhardt  organized  Zion's  Luth- 
eran congregation  in  West  Penn,  Schuylkill  Co.,  Pa.,  and  was 
its  pastor  until  1807.  For  upwards  of  thirteen  years  he  had 
been  holding  services  in  school  houses,  barns  and  private  houses, 
before  building  the  church  there.  The  first  church  was  erected 
in  1790.  In  1 81 2  to  1 814  he  was  pastor  of  Mt.  Zion  congregation, 
in  Nescopeck  Township,  Columbia  County.  He  finally  served 
as  pastor  for  a  number  of  years  in  the  upper  part  of  Lehigh  County, 
where  he  died,  and  his  remains  are  buried  in  the  graveyard  of 
New  Tripoli  Church. 


Rev.  Carl  Christopher  Goetz. 

Who  the  immediate  successor  of  Rev.  Schellhardt  was  at 
Egypt  is  not  easily  determined.  But,  as  Rev.  C.  C.  Goetz  was 
at  Jordan  from  1785  to  1789,  and  as  Jordan  and  Egypt  were 
served  by  the  same  pastors,  it  might  be  the  case  that  he  served 
Egypt  until  Van  Buskirk  returned  in  1789.  Of  course  there  is 
no  positive  proof  of  this.  In  1790  he  was  pastor  of  the  Mahanoy 
parish  in  Northumberland  County.  From  1785  to  1788  he  was 
pastor  at  AUentown.  In  the  audit  of  1794,  in  the  records  of 
Egypt  Lutheran  congregation,  we  find  that  six  shillings  were 
paid  to  Rev.  Goetz  for  communion  wafers,  which  he  no  doubt 
had  brought  there  for  the  communion  which  he  may  have  admin- 
istered in  Egypt  at  that  time. 

Rev.  Conrad  Frederick  Plitt. 

After  the  second  pastorate  of  Rev.  Van  Buskirk,  1789  to 
1799,  Rev.  Conrad  Frederick  Plitt  served  the  congregation  a 
very  short  time,  likely  from  1800  to  1801.  In  1808  he  was  pastor 
at  Catawissa,  Columbia  County,  and  seems  to  have  been  in  Chester 
County  after  leaving  Egypt.  He  was  a  brother  of  Rev.  John 
Plitt  and  an  uncle  of  the  late  John  Keller  Plitt  who  was  the  first 
pastor  of  Trinity  Lutheran  congregation,  of  Catasauqua,  from 
1875  to  1885,  and  was  also  treasurer  of  the  Ministerium  of  Penna. 
for  a  number  of  years. 

Rev.  Johann  Casper  Dili.. 

Rev.  Dill  was  the  next  regular  Lutheran  pastor  at  Egypt. 
He  took  charge  after  Rev.  Plitt  in  1801,  and  continued  until  1806, 
when  he  was  followed  by  Rev.  H.  A.  Geissenhainer.  The  yearly 
audits  of  current  expenses  were  signed  during  those  years  by  him 
and  his  church  council,  as  was  customary  for  the  pastors  to  do. 
Mr.  Dill  appeared  at  the  meeting  of  the  Ministerium  of  Penna., 
at  New  Hanover,  June  1791,  and  requested  to  be  licensed.  He 
was  at  Jordan  at  the  time  and  had  just  come  from  Germany. 
After  some  delay,  a  license  was  granted  for  one  year.  It  was 
conditioned,  however,  that  he  must  stay  away  from  the  Trexler- 
town  congregation,  because  that  congregation  was  within  two 
miles  of  a  congregation  served  by  Rev.  Van  Buskirk,  namely, 
"Macungie"  now  known  as  "Lehigh"  Church.  In  1792  he  was 
recommended  to  the  Whitpain  congregation,  by  the  Ministerium, 
but  in  1793,  the  year  in  which  he  was  ordained,  he  still  reported 
from  Whitehall  or  Jordan  where  he  lived  in  the  parsonage,  and 
continued  until  1802.  In  1803,  1804  and  1806  he  reported  at 
the  meeting  of  Synod  from  Northampton  County,  serving  congre- 
gations at  Hamilton,  Monroe  County,  Plainfield  and  Moore  Town- 
ship.    He  was  the  first  pastor  of  Salem  Lutheran  congregation. 


114 

of  Pleasant  Valley,  Monroe  County,  from  1806  to  1810.  He 
laid  the  corner  stone  of  the  first  church,  November  14,  1806,  and 
dedicated  the  same  on  September  6,  1808.  In  1807  he  reports 
again  from  Whitehall  and  then  from  1808  to  181 3  he  reports 
from  Plainfield.  In  181 5  he  reported  having  received  a  call 
from  Germantown,  Ohio,  and  synod  recommended  him  to  the 
place  as  a  traveling  preacher.  In  1 8 1 6  he  organized  a  congregation 
in  and  around  Germantown,  Ohio,  called  Emanuel  Lutheran 
Church  and  became  the  first  pastor  thereof.  In  1825  he  died 
there  and  is  buried  near  the  church  in  its  graveyard.  He  was 
one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Ohio  Synod  in  181 8. 

An  amusing  incident  was  related  to  the  writer  of  this  sketch 
about  Rev.  Dill,  by  the  late  George  Yeager,  of  Catasauqua,  who 
was  quite  old,  yet  possessed  a  very  good  memory.  The  incident 
came  to  him  from  his  father,  the  late  Rev.  Johann  Conrad  Yeager, 
who  lived  on  his  farm  near  Schoenersville,  Lehigh  County.  Old 
Rev.  Yeager  was  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  at  Allen- 
town  and  a  number  of  congregations  in  Northampton  County. 
He  was  a  kind  of  father  among  the  Lutheran  ministers  of  those 
days,  and  from  far  and  near  they  visited  his  hospitable  home. 
On  one  occasion  Rev.  Dill  visited  the  old  gentleman  when  he 
asked  Mr.  Dill  how  he  liked  his  new  field  of  labor  in  Northampton 
County,  as  he  had  recently  left  Jordan  and  Egypt.  Rev.  Dill 
replied  that  he  was  not  pleased  at  all,  because  the  people  were 
not  very  polite.  The  men  refused  to  lift  their  hats  when  they 
met  their  minister.  Father  Yeager  assured  him  that  in  America 
it  was  not  like  in  Germany.  Here  the  minister  has  to  lift  the 
hat  to  the  parishioners.  "Rev.  Dill  solemly  declared  that  he 
would  never  do  that  and  would  go  back  again  to  Jordan  and 
Egypt.  And  so  he  did,  but  whether  they  were  more  polite  at 
Jordan  and  Egypt  he  does  not  say. 

Rev.  Henry  Anastasius  Geissenhainer. 

On  April  15,  1806,  Rev.  Geissenhainer  took  charge  of  Egypt 
Lutheran  congregation.  He  served  with  it  Jordan,  Ziegel, 
Trexlertown  and  other  congregations  forming  a  charge.  He 
remained  at  Jordan  until  18 14  but  at  Egypt  he  discontinued  in 
1 810,  and  was  followed  by  Rev.  F.  W.  Mendsen.  Whilst  at  Jordan 
the  stone  part  of  the  old  parsonage  was  built.  In  181 1,  one 
hundred  and  five  persons  of  Jordan  Church  subscribed  enough 
to  erect  the  parsonage;  repair  the  church  building  and  purchase  an 
organ.  This  was  their  first  organ,  and  was  secured  from  Andreas 
Kr9,us.  Rev.  Geissenhainer  went  from  Jordan  to  the  Trappe, 
and  in  1821  he  went  to  Pittsburg  where  he  died  in  1823.  He  was 
examined  and  licensed  by  the  Ministerium  of  Penna.,  at  Balti- 
more, Md.,  on  June  11,  1797,  and  ordained  by  the  same  body  at 
Easton,  Pa.,  in  May,  1804.     His  first  charge  was  Whitpain,  North 


115 

Wales  and  Upper  Dublin.  -His  second  charge  was  Pikeland, 
Chester  County,  where  he  remained  until  1 806  when  he  came  to 
Egypt.  Rev.  C.  F.  Plitt  left  Egypt  and  Jordan  in  1801  and 
went  to  Chester  County,  and  Rev.  Geissenhainer  left  Chester 
County  in  1806,  and  came  to  Egypt  and  Jordan.  He  was  the 
father  of  the  late  Rev.  Augustus  Theodosius  Geissenhainer,  who 
was  pastor  of  St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church,  of  Allentown,  St. 
Thomas,  Altonah,  later  on,  and  for  many  years  treasurer  of  the 
Ministerium  of  Penna. 


Rev.  Frederick  William  Mendsen. 

Rev.  Mendsen  came  to  Egypt  July  22,  1810,  and  remained 
until  March  i,  1859,  a  period  of  forty-nine  years.  It  was  his 
first  and  only  charge.  He  not  only  had  the  longest  term  of 
service  here,  but  no  other  pastor  has  left  so  many  traces  of  service 
in  Egypt  and  community  as  he.  He  was  born  December  11, 
1780,  at  Oldenberg,  Denmark.  Was  baptized  and  confirmed 
in  his  native  country  and  also  received  his  preparatory  education 
there.  In  1805,  August  5,  he  came  to  America,  landing  in  Phila- 
delphia. On  July  13,  1808,  he  began  the  study  of  theology  under 
the  then  well-known  Lutheran  pastors  Drs.  Hellmuth  and  Schmidt. 
On  May  9,  1809,  he  preached  his  first  sermon  in  Camden,  N.  J., 


II6 

and  on  June  17  to  19,  1810,  he  was  examined  by  Drs.  Kurtz  and 
Lochman,  at  the  meeting  of  the  Ministerium  of  Penna.,  at  Harris- 
burg,  and  was  Hcensed  to  preach.  At  that  meeting  he  preached 
in  EngHsh  in  the  Presbyterian  Church,  of  Harrisburg,  on  Saturday 
evening,  on  Hebrews  4:  9  to  11.  On  June  12,  181 6,  he  was  re-ex- 
amined and  ordained  in  St.  Michael's  Lutheran  Church,  of  Phila- 
delphia. With  him  were  ordained  Revs.  J.  P.  Schindel,  the 
grandfather  of  the  writer  of  this  sketch,  J.  F.  Bngel,  J.N.  Hemp- 
ing,  G.  Mennig,  J.  Herbst,  Baetis,  Becker,  Sackman,  Heim 
and  Tiedeman. 

Egypt  was  the  only  congregation  in  Lehigh  County  which 
he  served  regularly,  although  in  181 9  we  find  him  a  short  time  in 
Upper  Milford.  Northampton  County  was  well  covered  by  him 
and  he  extended  his  labors  into  Carbon  and  Monroe  Counties. 
In  1810  to  1815  and  again  in  1839  to  1844  he  was  pastor  in  Pleasant 
Valley,  Monroe  County..  From  1810  to  1852  he  preached  regu- 
larly twice  every  Sunday  and  occasionally  three  and  four  times, 
besides  travelling  forty  to  fifty  miles  on  horseback  to  meet  his 
appointments.  Horseback  riding  was  almost  altogether  the 
custom  among  ministers  in  those  days,  and  old  parishioners 
say  of  father  Mendsen  that  he  was  an  expert  in  that  custom. 
From  1852  to  1859  he  served  no  other  congregation  but  Egypt. 
Rev.  Wm.  Rath  had  been  elected  as  his  successor  in  the  remainder 
of  the  charge.  In  coming  from  Cherryville,  his  home,  to  Egypt, 
he  had  to  cross  the  Lehigh  River  at  what  is  now  Cementon.  In 
the  early  days  of  his  ministry,  when  there  were  no  bridges,  he 
frequently  had  to  swim  with  his  horse  in  crossing  the  swollen 
stream.  At  Egypt,  for  many  years,  his  annual  salary  was  eighty 
dollars  and  the  oats  for  his  horse.  He  preached  his  farewell 
sermon  at  Egypt  on  May  4,  1859,  on  Acts  1 1 :  23.  His  last  sermon 
he  preached  for  Rev.  R.  B.  Kistler,  Lutheran  pastor,  at  Towa- 
mensing  on  November  20,  1870,  on  Rev.  2:  17.  After  a  lingering 
sickness  he  died  in  Klecknersville,  Northampton  County,  in  the 
home  of  his  daughter,  on  Saturday,  August  5,  1871,  aged  90  yrs., 
7  months  and  21  days.  He  was  buried  at  Stone  Church,  near 
Kreidersville,  on  August  9,  1871.  Rev.  A.  Fuchs,  of  Bath, 
preached  his  funeral  sermon  on  Acts  20:  25-38.  On  September 
2,  1871,  Memorial  services  were  held  in  Egypt  Church,  in  honor 
of  Father  Mendsen.  Rev.  J.  S.  Renninger,  then  pastor,  was 
assisted  by  Rev.  Prof.  F.  A.  Muhlenberg,  D.  D.,  President  of 
Muhlenberg  College,  Revs.  E.  A.  Bauer,  S.  A.  Leinbach,  A.  Fuchs 
and  Rev.  Father  J.  S.  Dubbs,  D.  D.,  who  was  his  colleague  at 
Egypt  for  many  years.  Rev.  Fuchs  made  an  address  in  German 
on  Prov.  10:  7;  Father  Dubbs  spoke  on  Deut.  32:  7  and  Rev.  E. 
A.  Bauer  on  Malachi  2 :  6-7.  Father  F.  G.  Berndt,  the  old  organ- 
ist, had  charge  of  the  music.  Rev.  Prof.  Muhlenberg  spoke  in 
English. 


117 

Rev.  Thomas  Steck. 

Rev.  Steck  was  father  Mendsen's  successor  at  Egypt,  and 
served  from  1859  to  1867,  when  he  resigned  and  went  to  Bern- 
ville,  Berks  County,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  J.  S.  Renninger. 
Egypt  had  heretofore  stood  in  connection  with  Cherry ville, 
Stone  Church,  Moore  Township,  Towamensing  and  others.  Since 
1852,  Rev.  WiUiam  Rath  was  serving  these  congregations  except 
Egypt.  When  Rev.  Steck  was  elected  at  Egypt  in  1859,  the 
congregation  became  connected  with  Heidelberg,  Union  and 
Lowhill,  of  Rev.  Jeremiah  Schindel's  charge,  and  Friedens,  of 
Rev.  Wm.  Rath's  charge,  near  Slatington.  It  was  known  as 
the  "Schnecks ville  charge,"  and  the  newly  united  congregations 
purchased  a  parsonage  at  Schnecksville,  which  was  occupied  by 
Rev.  Steck  and  afterwards  also,  part  of  his  time  as  pastor,  it  was 
occupied  by  Rev.  Renninger.  Rev.  Steck  was  born  at  Manchester, 
Pa.;  January  i,  1822.  He  entered  the  ministry  in  1850  and 
connected  with  the  Ministerium  of  Penna.,  in  1857.  After  he 
left  Egypt,  where  he  preached  his  farewell  sermon  on  November 
18,  1866,  he  was  agent  for  the  Orphan's  Home,  at  Germantown, 
until  1870.  He  also  served  congregations  at  Bernville,  Berks 
County;  Wilmington,  Delaware;  Lykens  Valley  and  Berwick, 
Pa.,  and  at  Phillipsburg  and  Bridgeport,  New  Jersey.  He  was 
a  man  of  good  spirit  and  of  undoubted  Chirstian  life  and  character. 
His  ministrations  in  the  Schnecksville  charge  are  to  this  day 
highly  spoken  of  and  gratefully  remembered.  He  died  at  Cata- 
wissa,  Pa.,  November  21,  1892. 

Rev.  Josiah  S.  Renninger. 

Rev.  Renninger  was  elected  at  Egypt  on  April  29,  accepted 
the  call  on  May  20,  and  preached  his  first  sermon  there  on  June 
7,  1867.  He  came  from  Ringtown,  Schuylkill  County.  He  at 
first  occupied  the  parsonage  at  Schnecksville  but  later  on  moved 
to  his  farm  not  far  from  Union  Church,  known  as  the  "Scheidy 
Farm."  During  the  last  years  of  his  service  in  this  charge  he 
lived  in  Slatington.  He  was  born  in  Montgomery  County,  March 
7,  1838.  After  his  preparatory  education  he  was  graduated 
from  the  Theological  Seminary,  at  Gettysburg,  licensed  to  preach 
by  the  Allegheny  synod  and  ordained  by  the  Ministerium  of 
Penna.,  in  1864.  After  serving  congregations  in  the  western 
part  of  the  State  he  came  to  Schuylkill  County  and  then  to  Egypt. 
In  1869  he  organized  the  Lutheran  congregation  in  Slatington 
and  erected  a  Union  Church  which  was  dedicated  on  Christmas 
of  1869.  This  congregation  soon  became  self-supporting  and 
called  Rev.  D.  K.  Kepner  as  its  pastor.  During  his  ministry 
he  also  established  preaching  places  at  Schnecksville  and  Slate- 
dale,  and  in  both  places  neat  chapels  were  erected.  He  also 
organized  the  congregation  at  Laury's,  in  1872,  where  a  very  fine 


Rev.  J.  S. 

Renninger. 

M 

Rev.  Thomal  Steck 

Rev.  J.  J.  ScHiNDEU 

119 

building  was  erected  for  the  use  of  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed 
congregations.  In  Whitehall  Station  he  established  a  preaching 
place  and  erected  a  neat  chapel  in  1884.  The  place  is  now  called 
Cementon  and,  since  April  of  1900,  there  is  a  regular  Lutheran 
congregation  there,  organized  by  Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel. 

On  January  31,  1888,  Rev.  Renninger  resigned  the  Egypt 
and  Laury's  congregations  so  as  to  form  a  new  charge  with  Coplay 
and  Mickley's,  two  of  Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel's  congregations.  The 
change  was  effected  on  February  5,  1888,  when  the  resignation 
of  Rev.  Renninger  was  handed  in  and  Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel,  the 
present  pastor,  was  elected.  The  newly  formed  charge  is  called 
"Whitehall  Charge."  Rev.  Renninger  remained  with  the  remain- 
der of  the  Schnecksville  charge  for  a  time  and  then  resigned  and 
moved  to  Allentown  to  engage  in  mission  work.  Rev.  J.  B.  Fox 
became  his  successor  in  this  part  of  his  late  charge.  When  he 
came  to  Allentown  he  organized  and  became  the  first  pastor  of 
St.  Luke's  Lutheran  Church,  now  served  by  Rev.  J.  C.  Rausch. 
He  also  organized  and  served  as  first  pastor  of  Grace  Lutheran 
Church,  of  South  Allentown,  now  served  by  Rev.  J.  H.  Raker. 
He  also  served  St.  Joseph's  Lutheran  Church,  of  East  Allentown, 
now  served  by  Rev.  J.  W.  Mattern.  Later  on  he  received  a 
call  to  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church,  of  Lyken's  Valley,  near  Berrys- 
burg,  Dauphin  County,  where  he  is  still  laboring.  Rev.  Renninger 
did  good  service  in  Egypt  congregation.  He  induced  more 
young  men  to  study  for  the  ministry  during  his  stay  in  Lehigh 
County,  than  is  usually  found  to  be  the  case  with  ministers. 
During  his  ministry  in  Egypt,  in  1870,  the  fine  new  organ  was 
secured  at  an  expense  of  $2,500,  and  in  1874  ^  ^^^^  steeple  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,100,  and  many  other  improvements  made. 
The  fruits  of  his  labors  are  met  with  constantly,  and  his  former 
parishioners  always  speak  kindly  of  him  and  his  ministry  amongst 
them. 

Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel. 

Rev.  Schindel,  the  present  pastor,  took  charge  of  Egypt 
Lutheran  congregation  on  April  i,  1888,  having  been  elected 
on  February  5,  previous.  He  resigned  St.  Paul's  Lutheran 
Church,  of  Catasauqua,  where  he  had  labored  for  twenty-one 
years  and  had  just  completed  the  erection  of  their  present  church 
.building,  and  took  charge  of  the  parish  thus  newly  formed.  It 
was  a  severe  task  for  him  to  sever  his  connection  with  old  St. 
Paul's,  but  he  felt  in  duty  bound  to  do  so.  Whitehall  charge 
consisted  now  of  Egypt,  Mickley's,  Coplay,  Laury's  and  a  preaching 
place  at  Cementon.  At  the  election  of  February  5,  1888,  the 
Egypt  congregation  decided  two  things  with  the  same  vote. 
They  decided  to  change  pastors  and  to  enter  into  the  formation 
of  a  new  parish.     On  coming  to  Egypt,  Laury's  and  Cementon, 


I20 

it  was  a  great  pleasure  and  comfort  to  the  present  pastor  to  have 
here  as  his  colleague  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  R.  Hofford,  then  pastor 
of  the  same  parish  on  the  Reformed  side.  He  was  a  pious,  noble, 
God-fearing  man  and  had  been  the  present  pastor's  preceptor 
and  a  colleague  at  Mickley's  Church  for  twenty-one  years.  For 
seventeen  years  here  and  for  thirty-four  at  Mickley's,  their  labors 
had  been  in  peace,  harmony  and  mutual  co-operation.  Dr. 
Hofford  peacefully  ended  a  useful,  blessed  life,  on  January  31, 
1 901.  With  the  coming  of  the  present  pastor  to  Egypt,  regular 
morning  services  were  begun  every  two  weeks  and  regular  evening 
services  in  English.  At  this  writing  the  languages  are  very 
nearly  on  equal  footing.  The  Missionary  Society  organized  by 
Rev.  Renninger  has  regular  quarterly  meetings.  In  1900, 
March  26,  the  preaching  place  at  Cementon  was  organized  into 
a  regular  congregation,  called  the  Lutheran  congregation,  of 
St.  Paul's  Church,  of  Cementon.  Both  the  congregations  there 
have  regular  services  every  two  weeks,  alternating  German  and 
English.  The  organization  of  a  congregation  at  this  place  took 
away  from  the  old  mother  church  at  Egypt,  no  fewer  than  one 
hundred  members. 

The  present  pastor  was  born  January  11,  1841,  in  the  old 
Lutheran  parsonage  at  Jordan,  where  his  father,  the  Rev.  Jeremiah 
Schindel,  was  pastor  for  twenty-four  years  and  where  so  many 
of  the  old  pastors  lived  who  served  Jordan  and  Egypt  until  1810. 
Rev.  F.  K.  Berndt,  now  of  Kutztown,  a  son  of  the  late  F.  G. 
Berndt,  organist  of  Egypt  Church  for  forty-one  years,  became 
pastor  of  Jordan  Church  in  1883  and  lived  for  a  number  of  years 
in  the  new  parsonage  there  and  thus  continued  the  long  and 
intimate  relation  between  Jordan  and  Egypt.  The  present 
pastor  was  educated  in  Allentown  Seminary,  Missionary  Institute, 
Selinsgrove,  Pa.,  and  graduated  from  Pennsylvania  College, 
Gettysburg,  in  1864,  and  from  the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary, 
Philadelphia,  in  1867,  when  also  he  was  ordained  by  the  Minis- 
terium  of  Penna.,  at  Lebanon,  Pa.  He  is  virtually  now  in  his 
first  and  only  charge  for  over  forty  years,  having  begun  his 
ministry  at  Mickley's,  in  May  1867.  Since  1899  he  has  associated 
with  himself  his  only  son.  Rev.  Jeremiah  J.  Schindel.  He  was 
born  in  Allentown,  October  25,  1876,  educated  in  Muhlenberg 
College,  graduating  in  1896,  and  also  a  graduate  of  the  Lutheran 
Theological  Seminary,  at  Mt.  Airy,  Philadelphia,  in  1899.  He 
was  ordained  by  the  Ministerium  of  Penna.,  at  Reading,  in  1899. 
During  the  incumbency  of  these  last  pastors,  the  most  expen- 
sive and  costly  repairs  were  made  in  the  history  of  the  present 
church.  These  repairs  were  made  in  the  years  1905  and  1906. 
Steam  heat  was  introduced  and  electric  light,  the  whole  building 
was  remodeled,  with  new  pews,  carpets,  extra  fine  windows  and 
all  modern  improvements.     The  Sunday  School  room  _was  also 


121 

handsomely  prepared  for  Sunday  School  and  Catechetical  pur- 
poses. The  amount  expended  was  nearly  seven  thousand  dollars 
(7,000.),  all  nicely  paid  for  soon  after  the  repairs  were  completed 
and  a  handsome  balance  of  nearly  $800  over. 

If  the  past  is  an  indication  and  guarantee  of  the  future, 
then  Egypt  Lutheran  Congregation  will  continue  to  receive  and 
enjoy  the  blessing  of  the  Good  Lord,  the  great  Head  of  the  Church. 
Such,  indeed,  is  the  sincere  prayer  of  the  writer  of  this  sketch. 

[Note.  It  is  with  profound  sorrow  that  we  announce  the  death 
of  Rev.  Dr.  Schindel  on  June  27,  1908,  at  the  age  of  67  years,  5 
months  and  16  days.  Dr.  Schindel  had  resigned  as  pastor  of  the 
Egypt  charge  on  May  31,  1908,  and  only  a  week  before  his  death  had 
read  the  proofs  of  this  and  the  following  article.] 


The  Organist's  home    formerly  a  schoolhopse. 


The  Egypt  Church. 

By  Rkv.  J.  D.  ScttiNDEL,  D.  D. 


Egypt,  Lehigh  County,  Pa.,  is  an  interesting  locaUty.  A 
place  that  can  claim  a  history  of  one  hundred  and  eighty  years, 
certainly  is  entitled  to  our  consideration  and  even  our  veneration. 
The  early  colonial  as  well  as  the  later  revolutionary  history  of 
our  country,  is  shared  by  this  place.  The  Indian  history  of  the 
state,  with  its  gruesome  massacres,  its  pitiless  devastations  and 
pillage,  is  intimately  connected  with  our  Egypt.  In  its  very 
midst  is  located,  to  this  day,  in  a  good  state  of  preservation,  one 
of  the  prominent  frontier  forts,  built  by  Adam  Deshler  in  1760, 
which  fort  served  as  a  military  post  during  the  Indian  troubles. 
But  a  short  distance  from  Egypt,  were  committed  some  of  the 
most  blood-thirsty  massacres  during  the  Indian  outrages  of  1763. 
Adam  Deshler,  one  of  its  earliest  and  most  prominent  citizens, 
furnished  the  provisions  for  Fort  Allen,  now  Weisport,  and  other 
frontier  forts  erected  against  the  Indians  in  1756  to  1758.  So 
also  during  the  revolutionary  war,  the  patriot  army  was  supplied 
with  fattened  cattle  by  the  farmers  of  and  around  Egypt.  They 
made  a  great  deal  of  meadow  hay,  as  timothy  and  clover  were 
not  yet  cultivated  to  any  extent.  For  this  purpose  they,  had 
elevated  water  courses  or  gutters  made,  and  raised  the  water 
into  them  by  means  of  an  Archimedes  screw  so  that  they  were 
able  to  water  large  areas  of  meadow  land. 

The  history  of  Egypt  has  its  beginning  about  the  year  1728. 
It  was  a  German  settlement,  and  it  is  claimed  to  be  the  oldest 
German  settlement  north  of  the  "Lehigh"  or  South  Mountain. 
It  was  usually  called  "The  German  settlement  on  the  Lehigh," 
being  on  the  west  side  of  the  Lehigh  River.  It  may  likely  have 
received  this  distinctive  name,  because  at  this  same  time  the 
well-known  "Irish  Settlement"  was  made,  on  the  east  side  of 
this  same  Lehigh  River,  in  Northampton  County,  by  emigrants 
fram  the  north  of  Ireland.  It  extends  from  the  Lehigh  River, 
now  Cementon,  Lehigh  County,  over  to,  and  beyond,  Bath,  in 
Northampton  County. 

The  church  at  Egypt  was  also  known  at  first  as  "The  Church 

at  the  Lehigh"  or  the  "Lehigh  Church."     The  name  Egypt  or 

Egypta"  appears  as  early  as  1736.     Rev.  Joh.  Henry  Goetschius, 

who  began  the  record  of  the  Reformed  congregation,  of  Egypt 


124 

Church,  mentions,  amongst  his  eleven  congregations,  "Aegipten" 
as  one.  Just  as  Rev.  Daniel  Schumacher,  the  first  Lutheran 
pastor,  had  sixteen  congregations  in  1757  of  which  number 
"Egypta"  was  one.  How  the  name  Egypt  originated  is  not 
known  of  a  certainty.  Efforts  have  been  made  to  account  for  its 
origin  but  they  do  not  seem  to  rest  on  any  positive  historical 
foundation.  It  was  an  important  place  long  before  some  other 
places  which  have,  in  one  hundred  and  eighty  years,  far  sur- 
passed it.  There  was  an  Egypt  before  there  was  an  Allentown, 
Easton  or  even  a  Bethlehem.  Jacob  Kohler,  the  first  white 
settler,  though  at  first  a  squatter,  had  a  land  warrant  as  early 
as  July  I,  1734,  for  150  acres  of  land,  and  built  his  first  mill  in 
1750.  When  Whitehall  Township  was  formed,  March  20,  1753, 
situated  between  Heidelberg  and  Macungie,  it  was  found  that 
"Egypta"  had  already  become  an  important  place.  Already 
in  1752,  Michael  Hoffman  had  been  appointed  a  constable  for 
this  particular  place.  In  1776,  July  15  to  September  28,  the 
convention  which  drew  up  the  first  constitution  for  Pennsylvania, 
met  in  Philadelphia.  Benjamin  Franklin  was  president  of  the 
convention  and  Peter  Burkhalter  was  the  representative  from 
^Syp^-  ^^^  location  for  the  future  church  buildings  was  easily 
selected.  It  was  the  spot  where  the  burials  had  been  made  from 
the  very  beginning.  It  was  a  crescent  or  half-moon  shaped 
tract,  sloping  towards  a  hill  at  whose  foot  the  waters  of  the  well 
known  Coplay  Creek  have  passed  these  many  years  and  continue 
to  do  so  to  this  day. 

Church  BuiIvDings. 

As  was  the  laudable  custom  of  our  German  fore-fathers,  they 
soon  cared  for  the  church  and  the  school  house.  The  school 
house  was  usually  cared  for  first  and  was  then  used  for  religious 
services  and  when  they  could  not  procure  the  services  of  a  regu- 
larly ordained  minister  the  school  teacher  would,  on  Sundays, 
read  a  sermon  from  one  of  the  sermon  books  which  were  brought 
with  them  from  the  old  fatherland.  Such  was  no  doubt  the  case 
at  Egypt.  Though  we  have  no  positive  information  of  this  fact 
yet  by  inference  we  believe  such  to  have  been  the  case.  The 
baptismal  record  of  the  Reformed  congregation  was  begun  on 
March  22,  1733,  by  Rev.  John  Henry  Goetschius,  who  was  the 
first  regular  pastor  and  remained  until  1736.  The  first  records 
of  baptisms  on  the  Lutheran  side  were  made  in  the  early  part  of 
i757>  by  Rev.  Daniel  Schumacher  who  was  the  first  Lutheran 
pastor.  The  religious  services  of  these  early  settlers  of  Egypt 
were  held,  we  are  informed,  in  the  different  houses  of  the  settlers. 
But  after  1756,  these  services  were  held  regularly  in  the  newly 
erected  mansion  of  Mr.  John  Peter  Troxell,  who  was  a  prominent 
and  liberal  member  of  the  Reformed  congregation.  He  was 
born   in   Switzerland   in    171 8.      This   mansion   erected   by   Mr. 


125 

Troxel  in  1756  is  still  standing,  well  preserved,  and  was  occupied 
for  a  long  time  by  the  late  Josiah  Steckel  and  family. 

The  First  Church. 

Up  to  1 764  there  had  been  no  such  a  thing  as  a  church  build- 
ing to  bring  the  people  together  in  religious  worship.  In  that 
year,  however,  a  building  was  erected.  It  was  made  of  logs. 
The  seats  were  made  of  split  logs  laid  on  upright  blocks,  certainly 
a  very  primitive  arrangement.  The  location  was  where  the 
first  graves  had  been  made,  in  the  well-known  half-moon  shaped 
piece  of  ground.  Right  back  of  the  third  or  present  church 
building,  running  northeast,  can  be  seen  in  very  dry  weather 
the  foundations  of  the  second  church  building,  erected  in  1785. 
By  going  200  feet  in  a  southeasterly  direction  from  the  front 
part  of  this  foundation  you  will  come  to  the  place  where  the 
first  church  stood.  Certain  graves  of  Johannes  and  Maria  Metzger, 
will  be  found  on  the  spot.  We  know  very  little  about  this  church, 
but  Rev.  J.  Daniel  Gross  was  no  doubt  the  Reformed  and  Rev. 
Daniel  Schumacher  the  Lutheran  pastor. 

Thk  Second  Church. 

So  primitive  and  inadequate  was  the  first  church  building, 
that  in  twenty-one  (21)  years  afterwards,  in  1785,  a  second  church 
building  was  erected.  This  building  stood  on  the  crescent  or 
half -moon  shaped  ground  right  back  of  the  present  church,  fronting 
the  street.  This  half -moon  so  often  spoken  of  was  formed  by 
the  road  coming  up  from  the  home  of  the  late  Edmund  Kohler, 
running  in  the  direction  of  the  rear  of  the  present  church  building 
and  then  turning  in  semi-circular  form  and  passing  in  front  of 
the  present  organist  house  to  the  present  road  up  the  hill.  If 
that  road  were  continued  now  it  would  run  through  the  present 
church  building  about  where  the  heater  is  located.  When  the 
present  church  was  to  be  erected,  the  congregation  purchased 
of  Daniel  Kohler,  fifty  eight  (58)  perches  of  land,  cut  off  the  road 
near  the  Kohler  barn,  and  made  it  straight  up  the  hill  as  it  is  at 
present  and  on  which  the  present  church  now  fronts.  After  this 
transaction  there  was  no  longer  a  half-moon  shaped  piece  of 
ground. 

On  April  18,  1785,  a  meeting  of  both  congregations  was  held 
for  the  purpose  of  taking  steps  towards  the  erection  of  a  new 
church.  Peter  Burkhalter,  Esq.,  and  Samuel  Saeger  were  selected 
as  treasurers  of  the  respective  Reformed  and  Lutheran  congre- 
gations. By  a  written  agreement  signed  by  seventy-two  (72) 
male  members,  the  members  of  the  two  congregations  promised 
to  contribute  according  to  their  ability,  towards  the  erection  of 
a  stone  church,  to  be  fifty  (50)  feet  long  and  forty  (40)  feet  wide. 
The  building  committee  then  and  there  selected  consisted  of 
Peter  Kohler,  Esq.,  Philip  Jacob  Schreiber,  Jacob  Mickley,  on 
the  Reformed  side,  and  Samuel  Saeger,  Adam  Zerfass  and  Nicholas 


126 

Saeger,  Sen.,  on  the  Lutheran  side.  The  plan  of  making  assess- 
ments was  adopted  and  thus  each  member  knew  what  he  had  to 
pay.  The  amounts  subscribed  and  paid  were  denominated  by 
the  English  standard  of  pounds,  shillings  and  pence,  which  accounts 
for  the  uneven  dollars  and  cents.  Peter  Kohler  and  Peter  Burk- 
halter  were  each  assessed  $77.33  or  29  pounds;  Johannes  Hoffman 
and  George  Koehler  each  $66.67  or  25  pounds;  Jacob  Kern,  Adam 
Deshler,  the  widow  of  Peter  Steckel,  Samuel  Saeger  and  Christian 
Saeger  each  $58.67  or  22  pounds;  Philip  Jacob  Schreiber  $53.33 
or  20  pounds;  Jacob  Kohler  $48  or  18  pounds;  Peter  Kern,  George 
Remaley  and  Jacob  Miller,  Sen.,  each  $42.67  or  16  pounds;  Martin 
Mickley  and  Johannes  Schadt  each  $40  or  15  pounds;  Nicholas 
Troxel  and  Lorenz  Ruch  each  $37.33  or  14  pounds;  Peter  Deshler, 
Peter  Neuhard  and  Philip  Roth  each  $34.67  or  13  pounds;  Fried- 
rich  Neuhard,  George  Schadt,  Henry  Biery  and  Conrad  Leisenring 
each  $32  or  12  pounds.  These  subscriptions  or  assessments 
thus  went  lower  by  degrees  until  the  amount  was  40  cents. 

Building  operations  were  begun  at  once  on  the  land  of  Peter 
Steckel,  deceased,  and  at  a  place  about  200  feet  northeast  from 
the  first  church.  It  is  not  known  who  all  did  the  work,  but 
Johannes  Miller  and  George  Jacob  Neuhart,  of  Allentown,  did 
the  carpenter  work.  On  June  13,  1785,  the  corner  stone  of  the 
new  church  was  laid.  The  collection  on  the  occasion  amounted 
to  $30.97.  Articles  of  constitution  had  been  drawn  up  and  adopted 
by  the  building  committee,  elders  and  deacons  and  placed 
into  the  corner  stone.  Before  they  were  placed  into  the  corner 
stone  they  were*  undersigned  by  the  following  members  of  the 
building  committee,  elders  and  deacons;  viz.,  Peter  Kohler,  Ph. 
Jacob  Schreiber,  Jacob  Mickley,  Michael  Neuhard,  Samuel  Saeger, 
Michael  Neuhard,  Jr.,  Johannes  Hoffman,  Adam  Zerfass,  Nicholas 
Saeger,  Jacob  Laub  and  Nicholas  Herzog.  The  correctness  of 
the  document  was  attested  by  Rev.  Abraham  Blumer,  pastor 
of  the  Reformed,  and  Rev.  Herman  Jacob  Schellhardt,  pastor  of 
the  Lutheran  congregation.  Teacher  Jacob  Strein  served  as 
Secretary.  These  articles,  as  placed  into  the  corner  stone,  were 
afterwards  revised,  enlarged  by  additions  and  readopted  on  June 
9,  1804,  and  are  now  embodied  in  the  present  constitution  of 
the  two  congregations.  The  comfnittee  of  revision  consisted  of 
Jacob  Saeger,  Johannes  Balliet,  George  Ringer,  Jacob  Schreiber, 
Nicholas  Saeger  and  Nicholas  Kern.  Revs.  Abraham  Blumer, 
Reformed,  and  Rev.  Johann  Casper  Dill,  Lutheran  pastor,  testi- 
fied to  the  correctness  of  the  document.  The  newly  erected 
church  was.  dedicated  on  Whitsunday,  June  4,  1786.  The  collec- 
tions amounted  to  $69.67.  The  entire  cost  of  the  building  was 
$2,381.73.  Besides  the  amounts  contributed  by  the  members 
of  the  two  congregations,  contributions  were  received  from  many 
outside  parties,  from  Lowhill,  Heidelberg,  Lynn,  Northampton 
County,  Allentown,  Easton,  Jordan  Church,  Kutztown  and  other 
places. 


127 

In  1806,  both  the  church  and  the  organ  were  repaired  at 
an  expense  of  $275.  In  1839,  the  gallery  was  enlarged  so  as 
to  accommodate  the  choir.  At  the  dedication  of  the  church,  in  1 786, 
a  beautifully-worked  altar  cloth  was  presented  by  Mr.  George 
Koehler  and  wife,  which  is  yet  in  the  possession  of  the  church 
although  no  longer  used.  They  also  presented  the  church  with 
a  pewter  communion  set  marked  with  their  initials,  G.  K.  and 
his  wife  M.  K.  K.  The  collectors  for  this  new  church  of  1786 
were  (53)  fifty-three  male  members  on  the  Reformed  side  who 
collected  545  pounds,  2  shillings  and  6^  pence.  On  the  Lutheran 
side  there  were  (45)  forty- five  male  members  who  collected  262 
pounds,  17  shillings  ^nd  4  pence.  As  the  congregations  were 
both  numerically  weak,  it  looks  as  though  the  whole  male  rnember- 
ship  had  constituted  itself  a  committee  of  collectors  which  was 
certainly  very  praiseworthy. 

Following  the  erection  of  the  church  of  1786,  we  notice  the 
custom  of  auditing  the  current  expense  account  every  few  years. 
The  custom  seems  to  have  been  begun  with  the  second  coming 
of  Rev.  Van  Buskirk,  in  1789.  The  first  audit  we  meet  with  is 
that  of  September  12,  1789,  and  is  signed  by  Rev.  Jacob  Van 
Buskirk,  Jacob  Strein,  Secretary,  Nicholas  Saeger,  Conrad  Leisen- 
ring,  Gottfried  Lauri  and  George  Beshler..  The  collections  had 
accumulated  from  April  29,  1787  to  August  16,  1789.  Of  this 
amount  in  the  handling  of  the  pennies,  6  shillings  and  8^  pence 
were  lost.  The  whole  amount  had  been  14  pounds,  6  shillings 
and  7^  pence.  In  the  expenses  we  find  7  s.,  and  6h  p.  were  paid 
for  a  "Klingelbeutel"  and  16  shillings  for  rum  used  by  those  who 
were  clearing  half  an  acre  of  land  by  grubbing,  for  which 
work  they  received  5  shillings.  Young  Kohler  was  paid  7s.,  and 
6^  p.  for  treading  the  bellows. 

The  audit  of  August  20,  1794  shows  that  6  shillings  were 
paid  to  Rev.  Goetz  for  communion  wafers.  The  name  of  Rev. 
Christian  Espich  also  appears  here.  This  time  the  account  was 
short  14  shillings  and  George  Koehler  advanced  the  amount. 
One  shilling  was  paid  to  a  poor  beggar  man.  The  same  auditing 
committee  as  in  1789  signed  this  audit.  The  audit  of  1796, 
October  22;  that  of  October  19,  1799  including  1797-98  and  99, 
was  signed  by  Van  Buskirk,  Christian  Saeger,  Casper  Ritter, 
Jacob  Scheurer,  George  Ringer,  Johann  Saeger,  Secretary  Jacob 
Strein.  In  1796,  Jacob  Scheurer  received  for  treading  the  bellows, 
7  shillings  and  6  pence  and  Nicholas  Scheurer  received  the  same 
amount  for  the  same  work  in  1797  and  1798.  Jacob  Strein,  the 
organist,  had  furnished  board  for  those  who  had  worked  on  the 
church  property  and  received  15  cents  per  meal.  Jonas  Grob 
received  9  shillings  and  4^  pence  for  treading  the  bellows,  for  1799. 
The  audit  of  January  7,  1801  including  1800  was  signed  by  Rev. 
J.  Casper  Dill,  Casper  Ritter,  George  Ringer,  Jacob  Schantz, 
Henrich  Mertz  and  Johannes  Saeger.  Back  pay  was  given  to 
John  Laury,  for  treading  the  bellows,  i  pound  and  loj  shillings. 


128 


The  audit  of  1802,  March  13,  shows  that  Elder  Casper  Ritter 
advanced  without  interest,  to  November  27,  the  sum  of  8  pounds, 
8  shilHngsland  10  pence.  On  February  7,  1802,  11  shilUngs,  3 
pence  was  paid  to  Solomon  Scheurer  for  i^  years  treading  the 
bellows  from  July  27,  1800  to  January  27,  1802.  In  1803,  Abra- 
ham Kohler  received  9  shillings  and  44  pence  for  treading  the 
bellows  and  Lprenz  Schadt  received  the  same  amount  for  1807. 
The  most  interesting  audit,  however,  is  that  of  August  9, 
1 80 1.  It  was  an  audit  of  the  accounts  of  the  building  committee 
of  1785,  16  years  after  the  building  of  the  church.  At  the  same 
time  the  organ  account  of  1786  and  the  school  house  account  of 
1787,  were  audited.  _It  is  certainly  to  the  credit  of  these  congre- 
gations that  they  kept  these  accounts  so  accurately  and  so  care- 
fully for  sixteen  years  until  they  were  finally  and  properly  audited 
and  recorded.  Secretary  Strein,  who  wrote  a  very  plain,  beautiful 
hand,  was  paid  the  sum  of  5  pounds,  3  shillings  and  10  pence,  for 
recording  these  audits  in  the  books  provided  for  both  congrega- 
tions. The  whole  cost  of  the  church  of  1786  was  $2,381.73,  the 
cost  of  the  organ  of  1786  and  expenses  connected  therewith, 
amounted  to  $411.09,  and  the  cost  of  the  school  house  of  1787 
to  1790  was  $267,  or  a  total  of  $3,059.82.  It  speaks  remarkably 
well  for  these  congregations  in  those  days  that  they  not  only 
built  a  church,  purchased  an  organ  and  built  a  school  house,  but 
also  promptly  paid  for  the  same.  This  audit  of  August  9,  1801, 
was  signed  as  follows : 


Reformed  Congregation. 

Rev.  Abraham  Blumer, 
Pastor. 

Peter  Burkhalter,  Trustee, 
Elder  and  Treasurer. 

Philip  Jacob  Schreiber,  Elder, 
Trustee  and  Building  Com- 
mittee. 

Jacob  Mickley,  Building  Com- 
mittee. 

Peter  Kohler,  for  his  father, 
Peter  Kohler,  of  Building  Com- 
mittee,    who     had     died     since 

1785. 

Michael  Newhart, 
Nicholas  Kern, 
Jacob  Meyer, 

Deacons. 


Lutheran  Congregation. 
Rev.  Johann  Casper  Dill, 

Pastor. 
Nicholas  Saeger,  for  his  father, 
Christian   Saeger,   Trustee,  who 
had  died  since  1785. 
Nicholas     Saeger,     of     Samuel 

Saeger,  Trustee. 
Nicholas  Saeger,  for  his   father, 
Samuel    Saeger,   Treasurer   and 
Building    Committee,    who    had 
died  since  1785. 

Adam  Zerfass, 
Nicholas  Saeger, 
Building  Committee. 
Casper  Ritter, 
Nicholas  Saeger, 
of  Christian, 

Elders. 
George  Ringer, 
JoHANNAS  Saeger, 
George  Heim, 
George  Smull, 

Deacons. 
Jacob  Strein,  Clerk. 


129 

The  Third  Church. 
The  third  church  was  erected  in  1851  to  1852.  The  trustees 
of  the  two  congregations  purchased  58  rods  additional  ground 
of  Daniel  Kohler  in  order  to  have  a  suitable  place  for  the  new 
church  building.  In  this  way  the  road  coming  up  the  hill  could 
be  made  straight  and  would  pass  directly  in  front  of  the  new 
building.  Thus  also  the  old  half-moon  shaped  piece  of  ground, 
on  which  the  church  of  1785  fronted,  was  removed.  They  paid 
fifty  dollars  for  this  additional  ground.  On  April  27,  1850,  a 
meeting  was  held  by  the  members  of  both  congregations  to  decide 
whether  they  should  repair  the  old  church  or  build  a  new  one. 
The  day  set  apart  for  the  election  was  May  9,  1850.  At  this 
meeting  sixty-seven  (67)  votes  were  cast  and  all  were  in  favor 
of  a  new  church.  At  a  subsequent  meeting  the  following  were 
chosen  as  collectors  for  the  new  church:  Simon  Kemmerer, 
John  Krdman,  Owen  Newhard,  Jeremiah  Ritter  and  Rev.  Joseph 
S.  Dubbs.  At  a  meeting  held  June  16,  1850,  the  following  were 
selected  as  a  building  committee :  On  the  Reformed  side,  Aaron 
Kohler  and  Simon  Kemmerer,  and  on  the  Lutheran  side,  John 
Erdman  and  John  Trumbower.  Edward  Kohler,  Esq.,  was 
elected  treasurer.  On  December  i,  1850,  a  meeting  was  held  to 
decide  whether  a  steeple  should  be  built  on  the  new  church  or 
not.  It  was  carried  by  one  majority.  This  steeple,  however, 
which  was  subsequently  erected,  measuring  100  feet,  was  a  very 
inferior  one  and  was  replaced  in  1874,  by  one  measuring  140  feet 
and  costing  about  $1,100.  The  building  was  decided  to  be  of 
brick,  65  feet  long  and  50  feet  wide.  It  has  a  basement  which 
has  been  repaired  several  times  since.  The  bell  which  was  placed 
into  the  steeple  in  1851  weighs  750  pounds,  cost  $400,  and  is  still 
in  use.  Daniel  Hoffman,  of  Guthsville,  and  Jonathan  Ortt,  had 
charge  of  erecting  the  building  so  far  as  the  carpenter  work  was 
concerned.  In  those  days  they,  of  course,  had  to  make  the  win- 
dows, doors,  pews,  raihngs,  etc.,  all  by  hand.  They  had  a  skilled 
German  mechanic  in  their  employ,  whose  name  was  Fritz  Muenter. 
This  man  Muenter  made  all  the  mouldings  and  railings  and  so 
well  were  they  made  and  so  artistically  designed,  that  when  the 
church  was  remodeled  in  1905  and  1906,  it  was  found  entirely 
unnecessary  to  change  these  articles.  The  corner  stone  of  this 
church  was  laid  on  Whitsunday,  May  18,  1851.  The  sermon 
was  preached  by  Rev.  Jeremiah  Schindel,  pastor  then  of  Jordan 
Lutheran  Church.  He  was  the  father  of  the  present  Lutheran 
pastor  of  Egypt  Church,  Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel,  and  grandfather 
of  his  assistant,  Rev.  Jeremiah  J.  Schindel.  The  collection  at 
the  corner  stone  laying  amounted  to  $164.10.  The  dedication 
of  the  church  took  place  on  April  11  and  12,  1852.  The  collec- 
tions then  amounted  to  $223.50.  The  entire  cpst  of  the  church, 
including  the  bell,  was  $9,252.91,  not  reckoning  in  the  wood, 
stones,  and  iron  left  over  from  the  old  church  building. 


I30 

The  Organs. 

As  already  stated,  the  first  organ  was  purchased  in  1786.  It 
was  this  organ  that  gave  the  name  "Organ  Church"  to  the  Egypt 
Church,  as  we  find  it  on  the  records.  This  organ  was  erected  by 
Mr.  Dannenberg,  of  Lititz,  Pa.,  June  6,  1786.  Philip  Jacob 
Schreiber  and  Nicholas  Saeger,  Sen.,  were  the  respective  treas- 
urers. The  members  of  the  Reformed  congregation  contributed 
71  pounds,  8  shillings  and  2  pence,  and  the  Lutherans  contributed 
28  pounds,  15  shillings  and  4  pence.  Outsiders  contributed  22 
pounds,  16  shillings  and  i  pence.  The  organ  itself  cost  145  pounds 
or  ^386.67.  Mr  Dannenberg 's  son  Samuel  received  3  pounds — 
"das  gewoehnliche  trinkgeld."  Martin  Mickley  and  Adam  Troxell 
each,  received  13  shillings  and  6  pence  "zehrgeld,"  for  bringing 
the  organ  from  Lititz.  Peter  Kohler  received  2  pounds  and  2 
shillings  for  boarding  and  lodging  the  two  Dannenbergs  during 
their  work  in  placing  the  organ.  With  other  incidental  expenses 
the  whole  cost  of  this  organ  was  154  pounds,  2  shillings  and  9 
pence,  or  $411.04.  This  organ,  with  several  repairings,  served 
the  congregations  for  eighty-four  years. 

In  1870  the  present  organ  was  erected  by  Charles  Hanzelman, 
of  Allentown,  at  a  cost  of  $2,500.  .  This  organ  has  rendered  good 
service  to  the  congregations  and  is  still  in  good  condition.  Better 
instruments  are  seldom  met  with  outside  of  towns  and  cities.  On 
March  22,  1869,  a  meeting  was  held  to  decide  whether  the  old 
organ  should  be  repaired  or  a  new  one  purchased.  The  vote 
stood  42  for  remodeling  and  38  for  a  new  organ.  As  the  vote 
was  not  satisfactory  a  second  election  was  held  on  August  22, 
1869,  and  resulted  in  66  votes  for  and  20  against  a  new  organ.  A 
committee  was  at  once  appointed  to  procure  the  new  organ.  The 
committee  consisted  of  the  four  elders,  Owen  Schreiber  and  Jacob 
Ivindaman  of  the  Reformed,  and  George  W.  Daniel  and  Daniel 
App  of  the  Lutheran  congregation,  with  Aaron  Kohler  appointed 
as  the  fifth  man  on  the  committee.  On  December  24,  1869,  a 
contract  was  made  with  Mr.  Hanzelman  for  the  price  .already 
specified,  and  the  instrument  to  be  completed  inside  of  six  months. 
On  August  9,  1870,  the  organ  was  brought  from  Allentown  and 
placed  into  the  church.  The  same  was  used  for  the  first  time  on 
September  20,  1870,  at  the  funeral  of  H.  B.  Schadt,  and  on 
September  25th,  the  instrument  was  formally  dedicated.  On 
September  26th,  the  same  was  carefully  and  thoroughly  tested 
by  a  competent  committee  consisting  of  Prof.  E.  F.  Blech,  organist 
of  the  Moravian  Church, of  Bethlehem;  Prof.  L.  H.  Weiss,  organist 
of  the  Episcopal  Church,  of  Mauch  Chunk;  and  Mr.  Samuel  Bohler, 
organ  builder,  of  Reading.  The  committee  found  the  organ  very 
satisfactory,  spoke  of  it  in  the  highest  terms  and  congratulate 
the  two  congregations  on  the  acquisition  of  such  a  superior 
instrument. 


131 

The  Organists  and  Teachers. 

The  first  teacher,  or  "Vorsinger,"  of  whoih  we  find  any  record 
was  Conrad  Schneider.  When  he  began  his  service  at  Egypt, 
is  not  known.  But  as  Mr.  Schneider  was  no  organist  and  the  con- 
gregations had  to  have  such  now,  since  they  had  purchased  an 
organ,  he  was  compelled  to  resign  his  position.  He  did  so  and 
was  succeeded  by  Mr.  Jacob  Strein  in  1786,  who  served  eighteen 
years,  seems  to  have  been  a  competent  man  and  was  very  good 
in  keeping  records  and  accounts.  In  1804  he  resigned  as  organist 
and  teacher  and  moved  to  Lancaster,  Pa.  His  successor  was 
Henry  Hempsing,  who  came  from  Hamburg,  Berks  Co.,  Pa.  He 
remained  until  1810  and  was  succeeded  by  Adam  Gilbert.  Peter 
Ruch,  Daniel  Schreiber  and  John  Neuhart  went  to  Rehrerstown, 
to  bring  the  family  of  Mr.  Gilbert  to  Egypt.  It  took  three  days 
and  each  was  paid  i  pound  and  10  shillings  for  the  service  rendered. 
Gilbert  remained  organist  and  school  teacher  until  1822,  when 
he  resigned  and  was  followed  by  Theodore  Starb.  Starb  served 
but  for  several  years  and  was  followed  by  Johann  Daniel 
Eisenbrown,  who  served  until  1829.  Eisenbrown  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Christian  Schick,  who  remained  until  1836.  In 
this  year,  1836,  John  Berndt  was  elected  teacher  and  organist 
and  served  until  1846  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Francis  G. 
Berndt,  who  rendered  a  long  and  successful  service.  As  organist, 
he  served  forty-one  years,  and  as  teacher,  thirty-seven  years.  He 
was  elected  April i  i,  1846,  and  ended  his  service  April  i,  1887, 
having  resigned  on  December  6,  1886.  He  however,  continued 
to  serve  as  Secretary  of  the  church  councils  until  June  4,  1888. 
His  daughter,  Mrs.  Maria  Ruch,  assisted  him  in  his  work  the  last 
few  years.  His  resignation  was  accepted  on  December  14,  1886, 
but  the  church  councils  requested  him  to  give  a  sacred  concert 
with  his  choir  before  retiring.  He  kindly  consented  to  do  this, 
and  this  sacred  concert  was  given  on  March  27,  1887.  Prof. 
Berndt  was  followed  by  Robert  A.  Benner,  who  was  elected 
February  5,  1887,  and  died  December  19,  1901.  Benner's  succes- 
sor, the  present  organist,  William  H.  Snyder,  was  elected  February 
9,  1902.  As  long  as  the  organist  was  also  the  teacher  of  the 
school  of  the  church  he  received  33^  cents  a  month  for  every 
child.  After  the  free  school  system  was  introduced  he  was  paid 
by  the  school  directors.  As  organist  he  had  to  collect  his  own 
salary,  and  for  every  funeral  he  served  he  could  ask  75  cents.  After 
the  year  1900,  the  organist  received  a  fixed  salary  and  was  no 
longer  compelled  to  collect  the  same.     • 

As  already  seen.  Father  Berndt,  as  he  was  familiarly  and 
affectionately  called,  was  the  last  organist  who  also  taught  the 
school.  He  was  yet  a  "schulmeister"  and  a  good  one  he  was. 
He  was  well  known  and  highly  respected  not  only  in  Egypt  Church, 
but  in  the  whole  community.  He  was  a  very  successful  teacher, 
and  took  a  prominent  part  in  the  educational  matters  of  the 


132 

county  and  even  of  the  state.  He  assisted  in  the  preparation 
of  many  young  men  who  afterwards  entered  college  and  became 
useful  and  honored  in  their  several  callings.  Egypt  and  vicinity 
can  perhaps  point  to  as  many  young  men  and  women  educated 
for  the  professions  as  any  community  of  its  size  and  circumstances 
in  the  state,  and  a  great  deal  of  the  influence  exerted  must  be 
attributed  to  Father  Berndt.  He  was  also  a  good  organist  and 
teacher  of  music.  His  instruction  in  music  and  the  rules  and 
principles  instilled  by  him  are  to  be  seen  and  felt  in  the  Egypt 
Church  to  this  day.  He  was  also  of  great  help  to  the  pastors  in 
their  work,  was  a  friend  of  everybody;  and  his  advice  was  con- 
stantly sought  and  followed.  His  scholars  and  choir  members 
were  strongly  attached  to  him.  Implicit  confidence  could  be 
placed  in  him.  After  he  retired  from  the  position  so  long  and  so 
faithfully  occupied  by  him,  he  lived  near  the  church  with  his 
son-in-law  Hiram  Ruch  and  wife  Maria.  He  still  took  an  active 
part  in  the  work  of  the  church  and  Missionary  Society,  was  never 
away  from  his  accustomed  place  in  church  and  was  liberal  even 
beyond  his  ability.  Like  the  name  Mendsen,  the  name  Berndt 
will  continue  t<5  live  and  be  honored  for  generations  to  come. 
Qn  M^-rch  12,  1891,  he  quietly  fell  asleep,  aged  72  years,  6  months 
and  13  days,  and  was  buried  March  17th.  A  large  concourse  of 
people  gathered  at  the  old  church,  many  clergymen  from  the 
county,  from  Allentown  and  from  a  distance,  came  to  attest 
their  esteem  for  the  departed.  His  pastor  preached  from  Matt. 
25:  21,  and  Rev.  Dr.  W.  R.  Hofford,  the  Reformed  pastor  at 
Egypt,  preached  on  John  11 :  11.  "Our  friend  Lazarus  sleepeth." 
Strange  to  say,  his  pastor,  the  writer  of  this  sketch,  who  had 
learned  to  honor  and  love  him  as  a  child  does  a  father,  was  the 
first  to  find  him  in  his  bed  after  he  had  suddenly  and  unexpectedly 
departed  this  life. 

The  School  Houses. 

When  the  first  school  house  was  erected  and  who  the  first 
teachers  were  is  not  known.  Likely  there  was  a  school  house 
before  the  first  church  of  1764,  as  was  customary  in  those  early 
days.  The  teachers  would  read  printed  sermons  in  the  school 
house  when  the  pastor  could  not  be  present  or  the  congregation 
was  without  a  regular  pastor.  In  1787,  however,  it  is  certain 
that  a  school  house  was  erected.  Philip  Jacob  Schreiber  and 
Adam  Zerfass  were  the  respective  treasurers.  Members  of  the 
Reformed  congregation  contributed  71  pounds,  10  shillings  and 
8  pence,  and  those  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  contributed  28 
pounds,  6  shillings  and  2  pence  towards  its  erection.  As  already 
seen,  this  account  was  audited  on  August  9,  1801,  and  everything 
found  correct.  The  school  house  was  made  of  logs,  two  stories 
high,  and  was  used  it  is  claimed  until  1829.  Its  cost  was  $267. 
In  the  winter  of  1829  to  1830  the  school  house  took  fire  and  was 


133 

totally  destroyed.  Steps  were  at  once  taken  and  a  new  school 
house  was  erected  in  its  place.  It  was  made  of  stones,  cost 
$i>537-54»  is  still  in  good  condition  and  occupied  by  organist 
Snyder  and  his  family  at  present.  The  committee  which  had 
charge  of  the  erection  of  this  building,  consisted  of  Jacob  Mickley, 
Sen.,  and  Peter  Ruch.  Solomon  Steckel  served  as  treasurer. 
On  February  i6,  1833,  the  account  was  audited  and  is  signed  by 
Jacob  Mickley  and  Peter  Ruch,  building  committee;  Nicholas 
Saeger,  Michael  Frack,  John  Newhard,  trustees;  Joseph  Saeger, 
Peter  Steckel,  Peter  Kohler  and  Benjamin  Breinig,  elders;  and 
Jacob  Rensheimer,  Joseph  Freyman,  David  Scheurer,  Johannes 
Ritter,  Jonas  Meyer,  Solomon  Dubbs,  Peter  Neuhard  and  David 
Ruch,  as  deacons.  In  this  school  house  the  public  school  was 
held  until  1871,  when  the  directors  of  Whitehall  Township  built 
a  new  school  house  in  Egypt.  Father  Berndt  continued  to  teach 
in  this  new  school  house  until  1883,  The  pastors  of  the  congre- 
gations were  accustomed  to  have  their  catechetical  instructions 
in  the  old  school  house  of  the  church,  and  here  also  the  children 
who  were  brought  for  that  purpose,  were  baptized.  It  was  also 
the  meeting  place  for  business  transacted  by  the  congregations  or 
the  church  councils.  In  unpleasant  weather  the  members  gathered 
there  before  the  services  began  in  the  church  and,  as  is  still  the 
custom,  communicants  came  there  to  be  recorded  for  the  com- 
munion. 

Egypt  was  always  a  prominent  place  for  school  and  education. 
The  first  English  school  in  the  county  was  here.  "The  English 
School  Society,"  of  Egypt,  was  organized  in  1808,  and  had  for 
its  object  the  instruction  in  English.  It  continued  its  work  until 
1857.  Tripoli  had  its  first  English  school  in  181 2,  Allentown  and 
Ballietsville  in  1816,  Upper  Saucon  in  1833,  but  Egypt  in  1807. 
The  free  school  system  began  in  1834. 

The  Sunday  School. 

The  Sunday  School,  of  Egypt  Church,  does  not  have  a  very 
long  history.  It  was  first  begun  in  1844,  and  held  its  sessions 
in  the  school  house  until  1847,  when  it  was  again  discontinued. 
The  late  William  Leisenring,  of  Cementon,  who  lived  in  Egypt 
for  some  years,  was  the  first  superintendent.  Also  a  certain 
Mr.  Weaver  was  one  of  the  early  superintendents.  In  1894,  in 
the  Fall  of  the  year,  the  Sundy  School  celebrated  its  50th  anni- 
versary, and  the  church  was  very  appropriately  decorated,  neigh- 
boring Sunday  Schools  were  invited  and  were  also  present. 
Addresses  were  made  by  the  two  pastors.  Rev.  W.  R.  Hoflford, 
D.  D.,  of  the  Reformed,  and  Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel,  of  the  Lutheran 
congregation.  The  venerable  William  Leisenring  also  made  a 
very  interesting  address,  and  another  was  made  by  Mr.  Edwin 
Mickley,  of  Mickley's,  Pa.,  who  was  a  scholar  of  this  Sunday  School 
fifty  years  ago.     Augustus  Kelchner,   Esq.,   was  also  a  scholar 


134 

fifty  years  ago  and  was  present  on  the  occasion.  Mr.  A.  N. 
Lindenmuth,  the  photographer,  of  Allentown,  took  a  picture  of 
the  decorations  with  Mr.  Leisenring  and  Esq.  Kelchner  on  the 
same,  as  also  the  then  acting  superintendents,  Mr.  Lewis  Kohler, 
Reformed,  and  Augustus  M.  Laub,  the  Lutheran  superintendent. 

The  reason  Hkely  why  the  Sunday  School  did  not  have  a 
continuous  life  after  1847,  was  because  Sunday  Schools  were 
not  yet  generally  introduced  in  that  neighborhood.  And  also 
because  the  Lutheran  pastor,  Rev.  F.  W.  Mendsen,  showed  a 
great  deal  of  opposition  to  the  movement.  As  Rev.  Mendsen 
was  sincere  and  conscientious  in  his  opposition  he  won  a  goodly 
number  to  his  views.  He  still  held  to  the  old  churchly  custom 
of  holding  "Kinderlehre."  Every  month  on  Sunday  morning 
before  the  regular  service  began,  Rev.  Mendsen  held  an  hour  of 
religious  introduction  with  the  children  of  the  church.  The 
writer  of  this  sketch  has  met  with  a  number  of  persons  who,  as 
children,  used  to  attend  these  instructions.  Rev.  Mendsen 
thought  the  Sunday  School  was  a  dangerous  innovation  and 
claimed  that  the  persons  who  undertook  to  teach  the  word  of 
God  to  these  children  were  not  properly  qualified  to  do  so  and 
would  lay  the  foundation  of  schism  and  alienations  if  nothing 
worse.  In  our  days  this  position  would  not  be  appreciated,  yet 
it  was  rightly  and  conscientiously  assumed  by  father  Mendsen 
in  those  days. 

Since  1847,  not  much  positive  information  can  be  obtained 
about  the  Sunday  School.  It  is  certain  that  no  school  was  held 
in  the  church  of  1785  for  reasons  already  given.  When  the  pre- 
sent church  was  erected  a  basement  was  provided  for  such  a  pur- 
pose and  was  also  utilized.  How  soon,  however,  such  was 
done  we  do  not  know.  Old  Sunday  School  scholars  tell  us  that 
the  school  was  held  only  during  the  summer  months  and  discon- 
tinued during  the  winter.  The  late  Edward  Kohler,  Esq.,  we 
are  told,  was  one  of  those  who  revived  the  school  and  prepared 
a  constitution  for  the  same.  With  him  was  associated  the  late 
Charles  Troxel.  In  1867,  Mr.  Reuben  Steckel  was  the  superin- 
tendent but  how  long  we  do  not  know.  In  the  seventies  and 
early  eighties,  father  Berndt  took  an  interest  in  the  school  and 
he  and  his  daughter  Maria  worked  very  energetically  in  and  for 
the  same.  In  1884,  Revs.  A.  J.  L.  Breinig  and  Alfred  Lobach 
became  superintendents.  When  the  writer  of  this  sketch  came 
to  Egypt,  in  1888,  Rev.  O.  S.  Scheirer  was  the  Lutheran  and  Mr. 
Lewis  Kohler  the  Reformed  superintendent.  Since  then  the  writer, 
to  the  best  of  his  ability,  recalls  as  superintendents,  David  Schneck, 
A.  M.  Laub,  Eugene  Laub,  Wilson  H.  Schneck,  Robert  A.  Benner, 
William  Kern,  Francis  Lindaman,  Phaon  Fatzinger,  Lewis  Breinig, 
Lewis  Kohler,  and  the  present  officials,  Prof.  Preston  Breinig  and 
Milton  Steckel.  On  account  of  the  unsanitary  condition  of 
the  basement   the  sessions  were  held  for  some  time  in  the  audi- 


135 


torium  of  the  church.  But  after  the  introduction  of  steam  heat 
and  the  repairs  of  1906,  the  sessions  were  again  regularly  held 
in  the  basement  as  heretofore. 

Sundry  Repairs. 

In  1 80 1  a  little  barn,  "scheurchen,"  was  built  costing  30 
pounds,  10  shillings  and  3  pence.  The  persons  taking  part  wer^ 
Adam  Troxel,  Christian  Saeger,  John  Saeger,  Jacob  Yehl,  Johannes 
Ritter,  Heinrich  Ritter,  George  Ringer,  Peter  Mickley,  Jacob 
Schreiber,  Peter  Kohler,  Jacob  Kohler,  John  Neuhart,  Michael 
Neuhart,  Nicholas  Saeger,  Esq.,  Jacob  Dinkey,  George  SmuU, 
Peter  Neuhart,  Jr.,  Adam  Scheurer  and  Jacob  Meyer.  They 
must  have  become  very  dry,  as  15  shillings  were  paid  to  Jacob 
Schreiber  for  3  gallons  of  whiskey  and  to  Jacob  Strein  7  shillings 
and  6  pence  for  one  and  a  half  gallons  of  the  same  material.  As 
already  seen,  in  1806,  repairs  were  made  to  the  church,  organ 
and  stoves.  The  committee  was  Michael  Neuhart  and  Conrad 
Leisenring,  and  the  cost  was  $274.62.  The  account  of  the  com- 
mittee was  audited  April  21,  181 1,  and  the  audit  is  signed  as 
follows : 

Lutheran  Congregation. 
Rev.  F.  W.  Mendsen,  Pastor. 
Nicholas  Saeger, 
Jacob  Saeger, 

Trustees. 
Conrad  Leisenring, 
Building  Committee. 
Jacob   Schneck, 
Frederick  Paul, 

Elders. 
Jacob  Laudenslager, 
Johannes  Ritter, 
Jacob  Bieche, 
Jacob  Scheurer, 

Deacons. 


*  Reformed  Congregation. 
Rev.  Johann   Gobrecht, 

Pastor. 
Jacob     Schreiber,     Trustee    and 

Elder.. 
Nicholas  Kern,  Trustee. 
Johannes     Newhard,     for    his 
father,    Michael    Newhard,  of 
Building    Committee,    who    had 
died. 

Jacob  Meyer,  Elder, 
Peter  Schreiber, 
Johannes  Newhard, 
Jonas  Hecker, 
Peter  Mickley, 

Deacons. 


In  1 8 10  on  November  27,  by  resolution  of  the  Reformed 
congregation,  the  penny  collections  were  all  put  into  a  common 
treasury.  Before  this  date  they  had  been  kept  separate.  The 
Reformed  treasury  had  on  hand  84  pounds,  6  shillings  and  3^ 
pence.  Of  this  amount  24  pounds,  6  shillings,  3^  pence  were 
regarded  as  the  penny  collections  and  paid  into  the  common 
treasury  as  such  with  the  Lutherans.  But  the  remaining  60 
pounds  were  to  remain  the  property  of  the  Reformed  congregation 
only.  In  1811  and  181 2  the  wall  was  made  around  the  grave- 
yard, and  the  church  and  school  house  were  repaired  at  an  expense 


136 

of  $805.80.  The  committee  in  charge  of  this  work  was  Nicholas 
Saeger,  Peter  Meyer,  Adam  Troxel  and  Johannas  Saeger.  In 
1820  the  fence  was  made  around  the  garden  costing  in  money 
$20.39.  Much  labor  was  dpne  without  charge,  seventy-eight 
persons  worked  from  ^  to  13  days  without  charge  and  others 
gave  rails  and  posts.  In  1829  the  graveyard  was  enlarged  at 
a  cost  of  $197.10.  The  committee  in  charge  of  this  work  was 
Nicholas  Saeger  and  Johannes  Neuhard,  and  the  committee  that 
had  charge  of  making  the  fence  around  the  garden  consisted  of 
Abraham  Butz,  Gottfried  Peter,  Samuel  Saeger  and  George  A. 
Kemmerer.  In  186  oa  centennial  celebration  was  held  on  October 
14.  Rev.  Dr.  P.  Schaff  and  Rev.  J.  Vogelbach  were  the  speakers. 
Rev.  Jos.  S.  Dubbs  was  the  Reformed  and  Rev.  Thomas  Steck 
the  Lutheran  pastor  at  that  time. 

In  1873  the  question  arose  as  to  the  necessity  of  repairing 
the  tower  on  the  church.  A  committee  consisting  of  Daniel 
App,  Edwin  L.  Breinig,  Owen  Newhard  and  Tilghman  Zellner, 
was  appointed  to  investgate  the  matter.  In  their  report  they 
recommended  a  general  repair  of  the  church  and  tower  with  an 
extension  of  the  tower  of  50  feet.  On  August  22,  1873,  a  meeting 
was  held  to  decide  the  matter  but  it  was  a  failure.  On  May  18, 
1874,  another  vote  was  taken  and  the  question  was  affirmatively 
decided.  During  the  year  1874,  therefore,  the  church  was  remod- 
eled, and  a  new  tower  or  steeple  erected,  measuring  140  feet. 
The  total  cost  was  $2,523.93.  The  dedication  took  place  Nov. 
8,  1874,  and  the  collection  amounted  to  $52.90.  Cain  Semmel, 
of  Catasauqua,  made  the  steeple.  In  1878  the  Lutheran  congre- 
gation received  the  sum  of  $233.02  as  its  share  of  the  parsonage 
sale  at  Schnecksville.  In  1880  to  1881  a  new  central  chandelier 
was  purchased  for  the  church  and  the  old  pewter  communion 
set,  presented  in  1786  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Koehler,  was 
replaced  by  a  silver  plated  set.  During  this  time  there  was  also 
some  general  repairing  done  to  the  church  building.  A  large 
chair  for  the  chancel  was  presented  by  Joseph  Newhard,  John 
Brdman,  John  Schwartz,  Sen.,  and  Reuben  Saeger;  another  one 
by  Joseph  Keefer;  and  a  large  arm  chair  for  the  pulpit  was 
presented  by  the  brothers  Samuel  and  Frank  Brown.  The  widow 
of  Paul  Brown  presented  a  marble  top  solid  walnut  altar.  The 
basement  was  repaired,  a  cistern  "was  made  at  the  church,  the 
church  was  painted  and  the  little  doors  at  the  pews  were  removed 
as  well  as  the  panel  of  the  front  pews.  New  heaters  were  placed 
into  the  basement  and  the  chimney  arrangement  so  changed  as 
to  heat  the  auditorium  by  these  heaters  in  the  cellar  and  basement. 

In  1887  a  new  iron  fence  was  placed  in  front  of  the  church 
by  the  trustees  of  the  two  congregations,  Edwin  ly.  Breinig  and 
Stephan  A.  Brown  being  of  the  Lutheran  congregation.  No 
extensive  repairs  were  now  made  until  1904  and  1905,  when, 
after  a  vote  on  October  3,  1904,  the  steam  heat  was  introduced, 


137 

the  second  set  of  heaters  removed,  the  terra  cotta  chimney  flues 
torn  down  and  a  fine  chimney  of  brick  erected.  The  expense 
was  about  $1,300,  and  was  soon  and  easily  paid  off.  This  was 
followed  by  very  extensive  repairs  in  1905  and  1906.  The  base- 
ment was  thoroughly  remodeled,  painted,  metal  ceiling  and 
cement  floor  put  in,  lighted  with  electricity  and  heated  by  steam. 
The  church  proper  was  painted  outside  and  inside,  it  was  frescoed 
and  painted,  new  metal  ceiling  put  in  place,  the  organ  touched 
up,  extra  fine  windows  put  in  place  of  the  old  ones,  fine  electric 
chandeliers  hung,  and  very  fine  circular  pews,  of  latest  style, 
placed  on  an  elevated  floor  which  is  covered  with  splendid  brussels 
carpet.  A  handsome  solid  dark  walnut  altar  was  presented  by 
Oliver  Leh  and  family,  a  corresponding  baptismal  font  by  Eugene 
E.  Long  and  wife  and  a  reading  desk  by  Thomas  Sch'adt,  Sen. 
New  bibles  and  hymn  books  were  presented  by  members,  and  a 
beautiful  gilt  cross  came  to  the  church  through  the  instrumentality 
of  the  assistant  Lutheran  pastor.  Rev.  J.  J.  Schindel,  from  Mr. 
Howard  W.  Lewis,  president  Farmers  and  Mechanics  Nat.  Bank, 
Philadelphia,  Pa.  The  committee  which  had  charge  of  these 
repairs  consisted  of  Thomas  Schadt,  Sen.,  and  Lewis  Kohler  on 
the  Reformed  side  and  Charles  Weaver  and  Eugene  E.  Long  on 
the  Lutheran.  The  total  cost  of  these  extensive  repairs,  including 
the  steam  heat,  was  about  seven  thousand  ($7,000)  dollars.  To 
the  very  agreeable  surprise  of  all  concerned  this  whole  amount 
was  soon  paid  off  after  the  dedication  services  were  over,  and 
a  balance  of  nearly  $800  left.  The  members  of  the  church  councils, 
then  in  office,  worked  nobly  in  collecting  thefunds  and  the  Ladies' 
Aid  Society  was  equally  active  and  successful  in  accomplishing 
this  gratifying  and  remarkable  work.  The  church  was  reopened 
and  dedicated  on  January  28,  1906.  Rev.  Dr.  Stahr,  President 
of  Franklin  and  Marshall  College,  Lancaster,  Pa.,  preached  for 
the  Reformed  and  Rev.  J.  F.  Lambert,  pastor  of  the  St.  Paul's 
Lutheran  Church,  Catasauqua,  for  the  Lutheran  congregation. 
Services  were  held  morning,  afternoon  and  evening.  Besidee 
the  pastors.  Rev.  Geo.  P.  Stem,  J.  D.  and  J.  J.  Schindel,  thers 
were  present  during  the  day  Revs.  A.  Lobach,  H.  J.  Kuder,  O.  F. 
Frantz  and  Morris  Schadt. 

The  Land  Belonging  to  the  Church. 

Egypt  Church  has  very  valuable  land  in  its  possession, 
although  it  is  of  very  little  practical  benefit  to  the  two  congre- 
gations. The  acquisition  of  this  land  is  a  matter  of  much  interest. 
When  the  second  church  building  was  to  be  erected  Christian 
Saeger  offered  to  give  half  an  acre  of  land  for  that  purpose.  But 
as  he  had  no  land  near  enough,  being  too  far  away  from  the  place 
where  the  church  was  to  be  located,  he  presented  this  half  acre 
to  Peter  Steckel  and  he,  in  turn,  promised  to  present  the  church 
for  this  purpose  one  whole  acre.     But  while  these  arrangements 


138 

were  being  made  Peter  Steckel  died  without  having  given  a  deed 
for  the  land.  Later  on,  however,  in  1786,  Henry  and  John 
Steckel,  to  whom  the  land  had  been  given  by  the  will  of  Peter 
Steckel,  gave  such  a  deed  to  the  church  as  their  departed  father 
had  promised  and  on  which  the  church  building  had  already 
been  erected. 

The  first  conveyance  of  land  to  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran 
congregations,  of  Egypt  Church,  was  made  September  28,  1786. 
This  was  for  the  land  on  which  the  second  church  had  been  erected 
in  1785.  It  was  conveyed  to  Peter  Burkhalter,  Esq.,  Peter 
Kohler,  Esq.,  Samuel  Saeger  and  Nicholas  Saeger,  trustees,  respec- 
tively, of  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran  congregations,  of  Egypt 
Church.  The  consideration  was  five  pounds,  being  $13.67,  per 
acre.  The  land  measured  2  acres  and  48  perches,  one  arce  as 
already  stated  having  been  the  gift  of  Peter  Steckel  and  Christian 
Saeger,  each  half  an  acre.  This  land  was  a  part  of  a  tract  of  land 
of  250  acres  granted  by  patent  to  Peter  Troxel,  by  the  late  pro- 
prietors of  Pennsylvania,  on  November  28,  1748.  These  250 
acres  were  afterwards  deeded  by  Peter  Troxel  and  his  wife  Mag- 
dalena,  on  May  28,  1768,  to  Peter  Steckel  who  willed  the  same 
to  his  sons  Henry  and  John,  on  June  30,  1781.  Then  Henry  and 
John  Steckel,  as  already  seen,  after  the  death  of  their  father,  Peter 
Steckel,  conveyed  the  above-mentioned  2  acres  and  48  perches 
to  the  trustees  of  the  two  congregations  as  above  stated,  in  trust, 
however,  for  specific  purposes.  The  deed  was  acknowledged 
before  Peter  Rhoads  on  September  29,  1786.  Mr.  Rhoads  was 
one  of  the  Judges  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Northampton 
County.  The  question  now  arises  on  whose  or  what  land  did  the 
first  church  of  1764  stand.  It  is  claimed  that  those  acres  on 
which  the  dead  were  buried  were  never  included  in  any  purchase 
and  were  considered  free  by  all  for  church  and  burial  purposes. 
But  the  church  of  1 764  stood  only  200  feet  away  from  the  church 
of  1785,  in  a  southeasterly  direction.  Both  were  surrounded  by 
the  graves  of  those  buried  there,  and  as  the  land  on  which  the 
church  of  1785  stood  was  regularly  conveyed  to  the  church  trus- 
tees, it  is  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  land  on  which  the  second 
church  stood  belonged  to  the  same  party  on  whose  land  the  first 
church  stood.  Now,  as  this  land  belonged  orignally  to  Peter 
Troxel,  who  acquired  title  in  1748,  and  did  not  sell  it  until  1768, 
it  seems  clear  that  the  first  church  of  1 764  stood  on  the  land  of 
Peter  (also  called  John  Peter)  Troxel,  without  previous  purchase 
by  the  two  congregations.  This  seems  the  more  plausible  since 
we  have  learned  that  since  1756  the  church  services  were  regularly 
held  in  the  mansion  erected  by  this  same  Peter  Troxel  at  another 
place  near  Egypt.  He  no  doubt,  out  of  the  kindness  of  his  heart, 
allowed  this  first  church  to  be  erected  on  his  land  without  any 
pecuniary  consideration.  His  land  extended  from  the  location 
of  the  church  up  to  where  the  old  Troxel  mansion  yet  stands, 
including  the  Nary  Peter  farm. 


139 

The  second  purchase  of  land  was  in  1793.  The  tract  con- 
sisted of  2  acres  and  55  perches  with  6  p.  c.  allowance  for  roads. 
It  was  conveyed  to  Peter  Burkhalter,  Peter  Kohler,  Christian 
Saeger  and  Nicholas  Saeger  in  trust  for  specific  purposes.  They 
paid  into  the  Receiver  General's  office,  of  the  Commonwealth 
of  Pennsylvania,  the  sum  of  three  (3)  pence  lawful  money  and 
received  a  grant  of  land  called  "Reliance."  The  tract  joined 
the  land  of  Jacob  Kohler  and  the  other  church  land  coming  from 
Henry  and  John  Steckel.  It  was  surveyed  in  pursuance  of  a 
warrant  dated  December  17,  1792  and  given  over  to  the  afore- 
mentioned persons  for  the  use  of  the  said  church,  clear  of  all 
restrictions  and  reservations  except  the  one  (1-5)  fifth  of  all  gold 
and  silver  ore  for  the  use  of  the  Commonwealth,  to  be  delivered 
at  the  pit's  mouth,  clear  of  all  charges.  The  conveyance  is  signed 
by  Governor  Thomas  Mifflin,  Governor  of  the  said  Commonwealth, 
on  January  29,  1793,  and  attested  by  James  Trimble,  Deputy 
Secretary. 

The  third  purchase  of  land  was  made  on  January  4,  1797. 
The  consideration  was  50  pounds  and  the  tract  consisted  of  4 
acres  and  3  perches.  The  contracting  parties  were  Jacob  Kohler 
and  wife  Mary  Elizabeth  to  Peter  Burkhalter,  Jacob  Schreiber, 
Christian  Saeger  and  Nicholas  Saeger,  Jr. ,  trustees,  respectively, 
of  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran  congregations,  of  Egypt  Church. 
The  land  according  to  the  survey  of  Peter  Rhoads,  Jr.,  son  of 
Judge  Peter  Rhoads,  consisted  really  of  two  tracts  and  was  sur- 
veyed May  3,  1797.  The  land  joined  the  church's  land,  that  of 
Jacob  Steckel  and  Jacob  Kohler 's  other  lands.  It  was  acknowl- 
edged before  Nicholas  Saeger,  Sen.,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  May 
9,  1797,  and  the  witnesses  were  John  Jacob  Strein,  the  teacher 
and  organist,  and  Michael  Neuhart.  The  condition  included  was 
that  the  said  Kohler,  for  himself  and  his  heirs,  according  to  the 
deed  on  record  in  Easton,  must  always  maintain  the  laid  out 
streets  on  his  land.  To  his  wife  for  her  signature  i  pound,  17 
shillings  and  6  pence  "trinkgeld"  was  paid.  This  tract  was  a 
part  of  a  certain  large  tract  of  land  of  60  acres  allowance,  which 
the  Hon.  Thomas  and  Richard  Penn,  Esqs.,  by  their  patent  of 
December  2,  1762,  granted  to  Jacob  Kohler  the  elder,  who  deeded 
the  same  to  his  son  Jacob  Kohler,  Jr.,  on  August  21,  1769. 

The  fourth  purchase  of  land  was  on  March  6,  1802.  The 
parties  were  George  Ringer  (mason)  and  his  wife  Elizabeth,  to 
Peter  Burkhalter,  Esq.,  Philip  Jacob  Schreiber,  Nicholas  Saeger, 
of  Samuel,  and  Jacob  Saeger,  Jr., 'trustees,  respectively,  of  the 
Reformed  and  Lutheran  congregations,  of  Egypt  Church,  in 
trust.  It  was  surveyed  on  May  22,  1800,  by  Nicholas  Neligh. 
The  consideration  was  28  pounds  or  $74.67.  The  deed  was 
acknowledged  April  3,  1802,  before  Nicholas  Saeger,  Sen.,  Justice 
of  the  Peace  for  Northampton,  County  and  the  witnesses  were 
George  Smull  and  Michael  Neuhart.     The  tract  was  2  acres,  strict 


140 

measure.  Mr.  Ringer  presented  the  Lutheran  congregation,  of 
which  he  was  a  member,  with  7  pounds  or  $18.67,  the  price  of 
half  an  acre  and  George  Kohler,  who  in  his  day  took  great  interest 
in  the  welfare  of  Egypt  Church,  gave  6  pounds  towards  the  pur- 
chase of  this  land.  The  expenses  with  the  surveying  of  this 
tract  were  ^  pound,  2  shillings  and  9!  pence,  although  Nicholas 
Neligh  did  the  surveying  for  nothing  and  organist  teacher  Jacob 
Strein  charged  nothing  for  writing  the  deed.  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Ringer,  the  wife  of  George  Ringer,  received  7  shilling  and  6  pence 
"trinkgeld"  for  signing  the  deed.  This  tract  was  chestnut  tim. 
ber  land  and  is  situated  in  North  Whitehall  not  far  from  Scheidy 's- 
A  part  of  this  chestnut  timber  land  was  sold  in  1878  for  $175. 

The  fifth  purchase  of  land  was  made  in  1849.  It  was  sur- 
veyed by  Daniel  Saeger,  Esq.,  and  consisted  of  152  perches,  strict 
measure,  and  cost  $142.50.  It  was  purchased  of  Jonas  Stofflet 
and  was  a  part  of  a  tract  once  owned  by  Abraham  Steckel  who 
had  sold  it  to  Jonas  Stofflet.  It  was  surveyed  August  27,  1849, 
and  was  purchased  for  the  purpose  of  obtaining  suitable  ground 
on  which  could  be  erected  sheds  for  the  teams  of  members  of 
the  congregations  as  also  for  erecting  thereon  a  suitable  barn 
for  the  use  of  the  teacher  and  organist.  The  tract  was  covered 
with  heavy  oak  timber  and  had  been  used  by  persons  to  tie  their 
horses  and  teams.  When  Mr.  Stofflet  purchased  the  property 
he  cut  down  the  timber  and  enclosed  the  land  with  a  fence.  The 
congregations  badly  needed  the  ground  and  thus  were  led  to 
purchase  the  same. 

The  sixth  purchase,  made  May  17,  1851,  was  surveyed  by 
Daniel  Saeger,  Esq.,  September  14,  1850,  and  consisted  of  58 
perches.  The  consideration  was  $50.  This  property  was  con- 
veyed by  Daniel  Kohler  and  his  wife  Magdalena  to  Peter  Kohler, 
Peter  Steckel,  Daniel  Saeger  and  David  Ruch,  trustees,  respectively, 
of  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran  congregations,  of  Egypt  Church. 
It  was  a  small  part  of  a  large  tract  which  Jacob  Kohler  and  his 
wife  Mary  Elizabeth  deeded,  on  September  2,  181 3,  to  Daniel 
Kohler.  It  was  acknowledged.  May  17,  1851,  before  Edward 
Kohler,  Esq.,  Justice  of  the  Peace  for  Lehigh  County  and  wit- 
nessed by  Edward  Kohler  atid  Abraham  Kohler. 

Total  acres  of  land:  No.  i.  2  acres  48  perches;  No.  2.  2  acres 
55  perches ;]No.  3.  4  acres  3  perches;  No.  4.  2  acres  (Woodland, 
less  what  was  sold  in  1878) ;  No.  5.  152  perches;  No.  6.  58  perches; 
Total  II  acres,  156  perches. 


The  Hampton  Furnace. 

Reminiscences  of  an  Important  Industry^ and  its  Old-Time  Owners. 
By  Henry  A.  ScHuiyER. 


Furnace-Glow  and  Furnace-Teams.  ' 

Years  ago,  when  still  a  boy,  I  would  sometimes,  sitting  out- 
doors in  the  evening  or  looking  through  the  window,  watch  a 
fitful  glow  in  the  northern  heavens,  now  blazing  out  bright,  then 
gradually  fading  until  it  was  but  faintly  visible. 

"That  is  the  furnace,"  my  mother  would  say.  Then  she 
proceeded  to  tell  me,  in  terms  suited  to  a  child's  comprehension, 
what  that  furnace  was,  where  it  was  and  what  men  were  doing 
there.  ' 

It  was  Sigmund's  Furnace,  less  than  two  miles  away  across 
the  Lehigh  county  line,  that  made  its  nearness  known  by  that 
nightly  glow  in  the  sky.  The  name  Hampton  Furnace  was 
hardly  mentioned  to  me  then.  And  notwithstanding  its  nearness 
years  passed  before  I  came  to  see  it  with  my  own  eyes.  Long 
previously  I  made  the  acquaintance  of  those  big  wagons  with 
long,  deep,  quaintly-shaped  bodies,  passing  along  the  road,  drawn 
by  four  or  six  mules,  loaded  with  charcoal  or  limestone,  and  was 
told  that  those  teams  were  in  the  employ  of  Sigmund,  the  iron- 
master, hauling  their  loads  to  his  furnace.  There  were  similar 
teams  on  the  road,  hauling  in  the  iron-ore,  but  these  came  from 
another  direction,  and  I  seldom  got  a  view  of  them. 

The  Charcoai^-Burners  and  Their  Work. 

I  learned  to  know  the  charcoal-burners  also,  before  I  saw  the 
furnace  for  which  they  too  were  working.  I  knew  the  round  spots 
in  the  woods,  where  they  had  done  their  work,  leaving  the  bare, 
charred  ground.  I  knew  some  huts  in  which  they  had  dwelt,  and 
sometimes  would  pass  the  big  smoking  woodpiles  where  the  burn- 
ing was  still  going  on.  Some  of  those  charcoal-burners  passed 
our  house  week  after  week,  and  I  remember  a  few  occasions  when 
my  mother  sold  them  big  loaves  of  home-made  bread,  baked  to 
their  order,  in  the  old-fashioned  brick  oven. 

The  process  of  charcoal-burning  had  to  be  well  understood 
and  carefully  watched.     In  a  paper  read  before  the  Berks  County 


142 

Historical  Society,  my  friend,  H.  W.  Fegley,  lately  of  Hereford, 
has  described  it  so  well  that  I  take  the  liberty  of  quoting  some 
paragraphs  from  him,  for  the  benefit  of  the  rising  generation,  to 
which  charcoal-furnaces  are  a  thing  of  the  past. 

"The  charcoal-burners  took  large  saplings  and  planted  them 
in  the  ground  on  a  level  place  previously  cleared,  and  around  these 
the  wood  was  piled.  This  was  cut  in  lengths  of  three  or  four  feet, 
and  the  pieces  were  placed  on  edge  around  a  center-pole.  Three 
lengths  were  placed  on  top  of  one  another.  When  the  pile  was 
completed  it  was  conical  in  shape,  twelve  to  fourteen  feet  high, 
and  thirty  to  forty  feet  in  circumference.  It  was  then  covered 
with  leaves  and  earth  to  a  depth  of  three  or  four  inches,  to  make 
it  air-tight.  The  center-pole  was  drawn  out  and  the  vacant  space 
was  filled  clear  to  the  top  with  chips  and  shavings,  which  were 
ignited  and  covered.  The  fire  had  to  burn  downwards,  and  to 
do  this  to  perfection,  eight  or  more  openings  or  vents  were  made 
at  the  bottom  of  the  pile,  to  provide  a  downward  draft. 

No  flame  was  allowed.  Two  men  were  always  on  hand  to 
keep  the  burning-process  what  the  charcoal-burners  used  to  call 
a  dead  fire.  Now  came  the  critical  moment  for  the  attendants. 
The  heap  had  to  be  closely  watched,  so  that  one  side  would  not 
char  faster  than  the  other ;  sometimes  it  became  necessary  to  close 
some  of  the  vents,  to  lessen  the  draft.  The  time  required  to  burn 
such  a  heap,  varied  from  one  to  two  days,  and  sometimes  required 
a  week.  When  the  burning  was  completed,  the  charred  heap  was 
only  about  half  as  high  as  at  first  and  proportionally  smaller  in 
circumference.   ... 

The  burners  usually  traveled  in  pairs,  and  as  the  charring 
needed  constant  watching,  they  were  obliged  to  remain  with  the 
burning  heap.  While  one  was  on  active  duty  for  twelve  hours, 
his  partner  was  in  the  hut  sleeping.  Their  huts  were  made  of 
saplings,  and  the  interstices  were  filled  with  leaves  and  earth. 

Their  bill  of  fare  was  not  elaborate.  It  was  generally  made 
up  as  follows:  for  breakfast,  flitch  and  potatoes;  for  dinner,  pota- 
toes and  flitch;  for  supper,  meat  and  potatoes." 

Seeing  a  Casting — Hampton  Furnace  Stoves. 

Just  when  I  saw  the  Hampton  Furnace  for  the  first  time,  I 
can  not  tell;  but  I  remember  quite  distinctly  one  Sunday  after- 
noon when,  with  one  or  two  of  my  cousins,  I  was  there,  watching 
the  process  of  making  a  cast,  and  marvelling  to  see  the  iron  flowing 
like  water  along  the  molds  of  sand  on  the  floor.  That  was  some 
summer-day  in  1865  or  '66.  They  made  only  pig-iron  there 
in  those  later  days,  but  ten-plate  wood-stoves  were  made  there 
at  some 'previous  period,  for  we  had  one  of  those  stoves  with  the 
inscription  "Hampton  Furnace,"  in  our  old  shop.  I  would  remem- 
ber that  stove,  even  if  it  had  not  one  day,  when  I  was  quite  small 
and  had  been  feeding  it  with  shavings,  suddenly  thrust  out  its 


143 

fiery  tongue  and  come  near  licking  my  face.  That  was  a  lesson, 
such  as  every  child  should  have  that  ventures  to  play  with  fire. 
My  father,  who  was  a  skilled  carpenter,  did  considerable  work 
for  Mr.  Sigmund,  during  or  immediately  after  the  Civil  War.  He 
was  well  acquainted  with  the  furnace  and  its  proprietor,  and  told 
me  a  good  deal  about  it  that  was  interesting.  It  was  my  mother, 
however,  who  told  me  that  Frederic  Sigmund,  the  father  of  the 
man  who  owned  the  furnace  then,  had  come  from  Germany  in  his 
youth  and  served  his  time  as  a  redemptioner,  being  too  poor  to 
pay  his  passage  across  the  ocean. 

Builders  and  Owners  of  Hampton  Furnace. 

Mr.  Sigmund 's  furnace  at  a  previous  time  had  been  called 
Mary  Ann  Furnace;  Hampton  Furnace  had  been  the  original 
name.  It  stood  on  the  Perkiomen  creek  in  Upper  Milford,  Lehigh 
county,  a  short  distance  east  of  the  line  of  Berks.  It  was  built 
by  David  Heimbach,  Wisserman  and  Coverly,  in  1809.  Heimbach 
soon  bought  out  his  partners  and  conducted  the  furnace  alone  for 
twenty-three  years.  August  13,  1832,  he  sold  the  furnace-prop- 
erty, then  comprising  ninety  acres  of  land,  to  John  V.  R.  Hunter, 
of  Northampton  borough  (Allentown),  who  conducted  it  for  two 
years.  May  20,  1834,  the  property  was  transferred  to  Daniel  V. 
R.  Hunter,  for  $9,000,  along  with  two  tracts  in  Upper  Milford,  one 
of  42  acres  120  perches,  the  other  of  22  acres  154  perches,  for  which 
the  sellers  were  to  receive  $1,000.  March  31,  1838,  followed  a 
reconveyance  for  the  same  consideration  to  John  V.  R.  Hunter  and 
Paul  Miller. 

The  New  Hampton  Works,  as,  according  to  the  day-book 
and  journal  of  the  firm  Hunter  &  Miller,  the  enterprise  was  then 
called,  must  have  been  a  losing  venture  in  those  days.  A  crisis 
came  in  November,  1844,  when  "they  got  stopped  by  the  sheriff." 
The  property  was  sold  to  John  Gross,  of  Allentown.  Under  date 
of  February  7,  1850,  we  find  a  deed  given  by  Charles  Ihrie,  sheriff, 
to  Frederic  Sigmund,  for  the  Hampton  Furnace  and  three  tracts 
of  land,  comprising  67  acres  and  42  perches,  more  or  less,  sold  for 
$3,525,  to  recover  a  debt  of  $1,230.82,  which  Frederic  Sigmund 
and  Horatio  Trexler,  assignees  of  Hunter  &  Miller,  recovered 
against  John  Gross. 

Mr.  Sigmund  seems  to  have  acquired  only  a  quarter  of  the 
furnace  property  by  this  sale.     By  the  next  deed,  given  April  15, 

1858,  Frederic  S.  Hunter,  of  Leesport,  Cyrus  J.  Nicholas  and  David 
Hunter  and  their  wives.  Dr.  H.  H. '  Muhlenberg  and  Henry  S. 
Eckert,  children  and  heirs-at-law  of  the  late  Nicholas  V.  R.  Hunter, 
of  Reading,  conveyed  to  Frederic  Sigmund,  for  $9,000,  a  quarter 
part  of  the  Hampton  Furnace  property,  including  the  three  con- 
tiguous tracts  of  land  in  Upper  Milford.     And  on  October  29, 

1859,  John  McManus  and  Jacob  V.  R.  Hunter,  both  of  Reading, 
sold  to  Frederic  Sigmund  one-half  of  the  same  property  for  $3,500. 


144 

The  Palmy  Days  of  the  Hampton  Furnace. 

Under  the  management  of  Frederic  Sigmund  the  Hampton 
Furnace  enjoyed  its  greatest  prosperity,  as  the  following  recollec- 
tions kindly  furnished  us  by  Dr.  P.  S.  Leisenring,  now  of  San  Diego, 
Cal.,  will  show: 

"I  first  knew  the  Hampton  Furnace  in  the  spring  of  1852,  soon 
after  I  had  located  in  Millerstown,  now  Macungie  (Lehigh  county, 
Pa.).  Its  owners  then  were,  the  Hunter  Brothers,  of  Reading, 
and  Frederic  Sigmund.  Later  Mr.  Sigmund  became  sole  owner  of 
the  property.  For  some  time  previous  he  had  the  entire  manage- 
ment of  the  furnace.  I  was  told  that  before  his  taking  charge, 
it  was  a  losing  investment,  in  fact  a  failure;  but  his  careful,  judi- 
cious management  soon  made  it  a  paying  business.  Things  in 
and  about  the  property  soon  put  on  a  more  attractive  appearance. 
New  tenement  houses  were  built,  the  old  ones  were  repaired.  A 
larger  barn  was  built  and  arrangements  were  made  to  build  a 
larger  and  more  comfortable  dwelling  for  the  owner's  family,  then 
consisting  of  one  daughter  and  two  sons.  The  building  of  the 
dwelling  house  was  materially  hastened  by  a  very  severe  electric 
storm,  that  came  one  night,  with  a  heavy  downpour  of  rain, 
blowing  off  the  roof  of  the  old  house,  drenching  the  inmates  pretty 
thoroughly,  and  compelling  them  to  occupy  one  of  the  tenement 
houses  until  the  new  dwelling  was  finished.  Improvements  on 
and  about  the  property  were  made  from  time  to  time,  until  it 
became  one  of  the  most  prosperous  and  desirable  charcoal-iron 
plants  in  the  State.  The  metal  made  there  was  first  class,  always 
commanding  the  highest  prices  and  a  ready  sale.  During  our 
Civil  War  it  was  largely  used  for  the  manufacture  of  government- 
cannon.  Mr.  Sigmund  became  one  of  the  most  successful  char- 
coal-iron makers  of  his  day.  He  was  active,  industrious,  honest, 
progressive,  of  correct  habits  and  good  morals,  dealing  justly  with 
his  employees  and  with  all  who  had  business-relations  with  him. 
In  short,  he  was  an  old-style  business  man  and  gentleman. 

The  immediate  surroundings  of  Hampton  Furnace  were  hilly 
and  rough.  The  location  was  somewhat  isolated,  but  decidedly 
picturesque  and  attractive,  especially  during  the  spring  and 
autumn  months.  The  summers  were  warm,  the  winters  mostly 
dreary. 

The  large,  well  kept  six-mule  furnace  teams  were  one  of  the 
features  of  the  neighborhood,  as  during  most  of  the  year  they 
made  daily  trips  to  and  from  .the  furnace  with  heavy  loads  of  char- 
coal, limestone,  iron-ore  or  pig-iron.  Pottstown  was  the  nearest 
railroad  station,  from  which  most  of  the  metal  was  shipped.  Scar- 
city of  wood  in  the  immediate  neighborhood  of  the  furnace,  often 
made  it  necessary  to  get  a  supply  of  charcoal  from  a  great  distance. 
As  a  rule  that  had  to  be  hauled  over  rough  roads  and  during  the 
wet  and  freezing  months  of  the  year,  the  heavy  furnace  teams 


145 

kept  them  in  a  miserable  condition,  making  travel  on  horseback 
or  in  Hght  vehicles  slow  work.  This  often  sorely  tried  our  patience, 
as  well  as  our  patients,  when  haste  was  required.  However,  as 
the  furnace  was  the  biggest  business  enterprise  of  the  neighborhood, 
but  little  outward  complaint  was  heard.  When  the  turnpike 
from  Shimersville  to  Treichlersville  and  beyond  was  made,  travel 
became  less  trying. 

Professional  calls  on  the  families  of  the  furnace  men  were 
frequent,  and  after  a  time  the  writer  always  particularly  enjoyed 
them,  not  only  for  the  fees  they  brought,  but  on  account  of  a  more 
substantial  attraction  he  often  met  there.  It  was  the  same  'old, 
old  story';  Cupid  with  his  dart  left  a  wounded  heart,  and  in  due 
time  the  furnace  master's  pretty  little  daughter  became  my  wife. 
This  naturally  caused  me  to  have  a  still  higher  appreciation  of  the 
old  Hampton  Furnace  and  its  surroundings. 

In  the  spring  of  1857,  we  moved  from  Millerstown  to  Selins- 
grove,  Pa.  As  a  consequence  we  heard  less  of  the  doings  at  the 
furnace,  though  we  still  kept  in  touch  with  it.  After  the  departure 
of  Father  Sigmund,  the  furnace  came  into  possession  of  his  son 
Henry,  who  later  disposed  of  the  property.  I  love  to  recall  to 
mind  and  linger  in  thought  among  the  scenes  of  the  old  Hampton 
Furnace.  May  they  ever  be  a  green  spot  in  my  pilgrimage  through 
life." 

Frederick  Sigmund's  Successors — Old  Deeds 
AND  Account-Books. 

Frederick  Sigmund  died  at  Hollidaysburg,  Pa.,  June  25,  i860, 
aged  53  years,  2  months,  25  days.  He  died  intestate,  leaving 
three  children:  Henry  M.,  Albert  M.  and  Emma  E.,  wife  of  Peter 
S.  Leisenring.  The  records  of  the  Lehigh  county  orphans'  court 
show,  under  date  of  May  14,  1861,  that  these  children  agreed  to 
divide  their  father's  estate,  the  brothers  accepting  the  three 
tracts  of  land  at  the  following  valuation:  No.'  i,  including  the 
Hampton  Furnace  and  measuring  67  acres  and  42  perches,  at 
$7,000;  No.  2,  II  acres  and  42  perches,  at  $275,  and  No.  3,  2  acres 
and  4  perches,  at  $62.  The  proceeds  were  equally  shared  by  the 
three  heirS. 

For  these  facts  concerning  the  successive  transfers  of  the 
Hampton  Furnace  I  am  chiefly  indebted  to  Mr.  Peter  J.  Faust, 
the  present  owner  of  the  property,  who  kindly  allowed  me  to  look 
over  the  old  deeds  and  account  books  in  his  possession.  From 
the  latter  we  learn  also  that  the  owner  of  the  furnace  in  1836 
(Daniel  V.  R.  Hunter)  owned  a  canal-boat  named  Albany,  the 
cost  of  which  is  entered  under  date  of  May  10,  of  that  year  at  $280. 
May  19,  1836,  we  find  an  entry  noting  the  tolls  for  that  boat  from 
Weissport  to  Allentown  and  back  at  $4.23.  Another  item  in  the 
old  "leger"  on  the  attic  of  Mr.  Faust's  home,  informs  us  that  on 
the  morning  of  December  8,  1866,  at  seven  o'clock,  the  thermom- 
eter at  the  Hampton  Furnace  registered  13  degrees  below  zero. 


146 

Father  Sigmund's  wife,  nee  Elizabeth  Miller,  was  killed  in  a 
runaway  in  1842,  when  they  were  returning  home  to  Dale  Forge 
from  a  visit  to  her  people,  below  what  is  now  Old  Zionsville.  She 
and  her  husband  are  buried  at  Huff's  Church.  The  joint  owner- 
ship of  the  furnace  by  Mr.  Sigmund's  sons,  Henry  and  Albert, 
lasted  until  November  i,  1865,  when  the  latter  and  his  wife  sold 
out  their  share  to  Henry  M.  Sigmund  for  $3,500.  During  the 
interval,  Henry  had  managed  the  business  while  Albert  served  as 
a  surgeon  in  the  Federal  army  and  paid  him  a  large  salary.  Dr. 
Sigmund  enlisted  in  July,  1862,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the 


Albert  M.  Sigmund,  M.  D. 

Courtesy  of  Mrs.  L,  L.  Belmer,  Osborne,  O. 


war.  After  the  division  of  property  just  mentioned  he  bought 
the  home  of  Dr.  Jacob  S.  Shimer  near  Shimersville,  Lehigh  county, 
where  he  continued  to  practice  his  profession.  He  died  there 
April  10,  1872. 

Hampton  Furnace  in  War-Times. 

Of  the  life  at  Hampton  Furnace  during  the  Civil  War,  Mrs. 
L.  L.  Belmer,  of  Osburne,  0.,who  then  was  the  wife  of  Dr.  Albert  M. 
Sigmund,  has  given  us  a  vivid  picture  by  the  hand  of  her  cousin, 
Mrs.  M.  L.  Earnest,  of  Mifflinburg,  Pa.,  who  writes  as  follows: 

"Among  the  pleasant  memories  of  long  ago  is  that  of  a  visit 
to  Hampton  Furnace.  It  was  early  in  the  sixties,  when  the  war- 
clouds  were  hanging  heavily  over  our  beloved  country,  that  Dr. 
A.  M.  Sigmund  brought  to  the  old  homestead  there,  his  fair  young 


147 

bride  of  eighteen  summers.  Henry  M.  Sigmund  was  then  a 
widower,  having  buried  his  young  wife  Adelaide  Schelly,  a  short 
time  before,  and  now  it  fell  to  the  lot  of  his  brother  to  furnish  a 
mistress  for  the  place.  Dr.  Sigmund  was  married  to  Lydia  Leis- 
enring  on  the  first  of  January,  1862,  at  Selinsgrove,  Pa.,  and 
brought  her  in  company  with  the  writer,  to  Hampton  Furnace, 
on  the  twenty-second  of  the  same  month.  It  was  a  wonderful 
change  for  her,  coming  from  a  locality  where  only  English  was 
spoken,  into  a  neighborhood  so  German  as  this.  Two  servant 
girls  were  there,  'Betsey'  and  'Kitty';  neither  of  them  could  speak 


Henry  M.  Sigmund. 

Last  owner  of  the  Hampton  Furnace.      (Courtesy  of  Mrs.'L.  L.  Belmer.  Osborne,  O.) 

a  sentence  in  English.  But  'never  say  fail'  was  the  motto  adopted 
by  their  young  mistress,  and  it  was  marvelous  how  quickly  she 
picked  up  the  language.  Did  she  never  make  any  mistakes?  O 
yes,  plenty  of  them,  and  none  could  laugh  at  them  more  heartily 
than  she,  when  told  of  them.  Her  husband,  fearing  she  might 
become  discouraged  in  trying  to  learn,  forbade  that  any  of  us 
should  laugh  at  her  mistakes.  But  his  own  powers  of  self-control 
were  often  put  to  the  test  at  the  manner  in  which  she  rushed  pell- 
mell  into  the  'Dutch.'  For  instance,  on  one  occasion,  having  a 
number  of  workmen  at  table,  after  the  plates  were  all  helped 
she  smilingly  said:  ''Nau  fresst  eich  salt!"  It  brought  a  broad 
smile  to  every  face,  the  doctor's  not  excepted.  At  another  time 
when  she  saw  a  storm  coming,  wanting  something  done  quickly, 
she  called  to  Betsey:  ''Spring  dapper,  es  kummt  en  Dunnerwetter." 
Again  one  day  she  asked  a  neighbor  how  to  make  ''verdaemta 


148 

Knep,"  meaning  steamed  dumplings  or  Dampknep,  as  she  should 
have  said.  Many  similar  mistakes  she  made,  but  these  instances 
will  suffice.  She  rarely  made  the  same  mistake  a  second  time, 
and  many  a  laugh  we  have  had  about  them  since  then. 

Of  the  furnace  itself  I  have  only  a  very  indistinct  recol- 
lection. It  was  midwinter  and  there  was  not  much  doing.  I 
left  the  latter  part  of  March  and  have  never  been  there  since.  So 
my  memory  goes  back  mostly  to  the  people  I  met  in  that  section. 
Such  a  whole-hearted,  hospitable,  sociable  set  of  people  it  is  very 
pleasant  to  recall.  What  delightful  evenings  we  spent  at  home 
and  abroad!  Sleighing  was  good  part  of  the  time,  and  we  made 
good  use  of  it.  The  Sigmund  brothers  were  always  ready  for  a 
trip  somewhere,  when  the  roads  were  good.  What  pleasant 
memories  are  awakened  by  the  names  Schelly,  Schall,  Young, 
Dickenschied,  etc.,  with  whom  we  spent  delightful  evenings! 
Young  people  often  came  over  from  Allentown,  so  that  life  there, 
though  it  was  winter  in  the  country,  could  not  become  monot- 
onous. How  many  of  those  friends  of  'ye  olden  days'  have  passed 
into  the  life  beyond ! 

Dr.  Ambrose  Schelly,  a  bright,  promising  young  man,  died 
early  that  same  year.  Oliver  Young  soon  followed;  both  these 
were  sons  of  prominent  physicians.  Were  we  to  have  roll-call 
of  those  who  lived  at  that  time,  how  few  there  would  be  to  respond ! 
The  Sigmund  brothers  are  both  gone,  but  they  live  in  the  memory 
of  thousands. 

I  recall  some  of  the  old  churches  with  their  high  galleries  and 
egg-shell  pulpits,  and  the  German  preaching  of  Dr.  C.  Z.  Weiser 
and  Dr.  A.  J.  Dubbs.  We  went  to  hear  them,  though  we  could 
understand  but  little.  I  recall  an  evening  which  Rev.  Kramlich 
spent  at  the  Furnace,  entertaining  us  with  an  account  of  his 
experience  on  the  Great  Eastern  and  their  narrow  escape  from 
shipwreck.  That  same  night  in  commemoration  of  Washington's 
birthday,  Dr.,  Mrs.  Sigmund  and  I  repeatedly  fired  off  a  revolver, 
a  new  experience  for  us.  Henry  M.  Sigmund  also  gave  me  some 
lessons  in  shooting  at  mark.  In  those  war-times  it  seemed  neces- 
sary that  women  should  learn  to  handle  fire  arms.  Speaking  of 
shooting  reminds  me  of  poor  old  Bob,  owned  by  Henry,  a  terrible 
ugly  mastiff,  but  an  affectionate  creature  to  those  he  knew.  It 
became  necessary  to  put  him  out  of  the  way.  Much  against  his 
own  inclination,  his  master  undertook  to  shoot  him.  He  did  shoot 
him,  but  did  not  kill  him  instantly.  The  dog  crept  up  to  him  and 
licked  the  hand  that  shot  him.  It  was  more  than  Mr.  Sigmund 
could  bear;  he  rushed  into  the  house,  tears  coming  fast.  I  do  not 
remember  his  words;  I  only  remember  the  incident  as  showing 
what  tenderness  of  heart  is  ofttimes  found  where  we  do  not  look 
for  it." 

To  this  Mrs.  Belmer  adds  these  words  of  her  own : 

"Very  distinctly  do  I  recall  the  heavy  cannonading  we  heard 


149 

during  the  battle  of  Gettysburg, ^:=  and  how  Henry  M.  Sigmund 
and  I  planned  to  go  or  send  teams  with  valuables  to  the  mountains, 
to  escape  the  rebel  army,  should  General  Lee  be  victorious.  How 
we  used  to  enjoy  the  light  of  the  furnace  while  sitting  on  the  upper 
porch,  a  light  more  brilliant  than  an  electric  light  of  to-day!  How 
much  I  enjoyed  the  casting,  nearly  always  done  at  night,  which 
added  much  to  the  weirdness  of  the  scene!  I  have  never  for- 
gotten the  kindness  and  hospitality  of  the  dear  friends  of  that 
neighborhood,  nor  my  happy  life  at  Hampton  Furnace." 

Stories  of  the  Sigmund  Brothers, 

A  writer  who  knew  Dr.  Sigmund  well  has. told  us  there  was  a 
strong  prejudice  among  the  rural  folk  at  that  time  against  mous- 
taches, and  when  Dr.  Sigmund  returned  from  the  army  wearing 
that  facial  ornament,  he  offended  the  sensibilities  of  many  of  his 
old  friends  to  such  a  degree  that  it  required  some  time  to  regain 
their  confidence  and  recover  all  his  former  practice. 

Henry  M.  Sigmund  continued  to  operate  the  old  furnace 
until  some  time  in  1867  or  '68,  when  it  was  blown  out  forever. 
He  was  married  successively  to  two  daughters  of  the  late  Dr.  Joel 
Y.  Schelly,  of  Hereford,  both  of  whom  preceded  him  in  death.  His 
last  wife  was  Clara  Schuler,  a  daughter  of  Aaron  Schuler ;  she  died 
in  January,  1903,  in  Philadelphia,  and  is  now  buried  beside  him 
on  the  cemetery  of  the  Lutheran  church  at  Old  Zionsville.  March 
14,  1870,  Mr.  Sigmund  sold  his  furnace  property  to  Captain  Peter 
Faust,  father  of  the  present  owner.  He  died  at  Shimersville, 
August  II,  1876,  leaving  two  daughters,  the  younger  by  his  last 
wife. 

As  owner  of  the  Hampton  Furnace,  Henry  M.  Sigmund  was 
one  of  the  most  prominent  men  of  his  community.  He  possessed 
qualities  and  performed  deeds  of  which  the  oldest  inhabitants 
still  have  much  to  relate.  Like  his  brother,  the  doctor,  he  was  of 
strikingly  handsome  physique;  he  had  an  iron  will,  and  having 
taken  boxing-lessons  in  his  youth,  was  abundantly  able  to  "take 
his  own  part"  in  a  fight.  I  have  heard  my  father  say  tha;t  on  one 
occasion  he  saved  his  father  from  a  severe  beating  at  the  hands  of 
one  of  his  employees,  by  standing  up  in  his  defense.  The  team- 
sters who  hauled  his  iron-ore,  charcoal  and  limestone  were  for  the 
most  part  rough,  hard-drinking  fellows,  and  when  they  met  at 
the  taverns,  as  they  often  did,  there  were  usually  bloodly  noses 
and  swollen  eyes.  The  only  man  who  could  prevent  or  check 
those  rough-and-tumble  fights,  was  their  employer,  Mr.  Sigmund. 
If  they  would  not  listen  promptly  to  his  sharp  words  of  command, 
he  himself,  though  weighing  hardly  more  than  140  pounds,  would 
jump  between  the  combatants,  dealing  out  blows  right  and  left, 
and  in  a  very  short  time  they  would  cry  "Enough."     The  story 

*  This  cannonading  no  doubt  was  done   at  Reading  by  way  of  practice.     Gettysburg 
was  too  far  away  to  hear  the  noise  of  the  battle. 


I50 

is  still  told  of  a  noted  ruffian  named  Miller,  who,  it  seems,  did  not 
belong  to  Mr.  Sigmund's  men,  but  had  long  sought  the  opportunity 
of  getting  a  whack  at  him  with  his  fists.  The  two  finally  met  in 
C.  K.  Henninger's  tavern  at  Zionsville,  and  then  the  fun  began. 
It  was  a  terrible  fight,  but  Sigmund  came  out  victorious  after 
having  pummeled  his  antagonist's  face  until  it  looked  more  like  a 
piece  of  raw  beef  than  a  human  countenance.  This  is  the  story 
as  told  by  a  witness  who  had  taken  refuge  under  a  table  in  the 
bar-room. 


^.^L^^t*^  ^Sfe^-^ 


Homestead  ol  Peter  J.  Faust  near  Sigmund,  Pa.     The  site  of  the  old  Hampton 
Furnace  property. 


It  is  further  related  of  Mr.  Sigmund  that  sometimes,  when 
out  walking  in  the  woods  with  his  friends,  he  would  catch  a  black- 
snake  sunning  itself  on  the  rocks  by  the  tail,  and  swinging  it 
around  his  head  like  a  driver's  whip,  would  pursile  his  friends,  who 
ran  away  at  the  top  of  their  speed,  shrieking  with  terror.  How 
many  of  these  stories  are  founded  on  fact,  we  are  unable  to  say. 


A  PowDER-MiLL  That  Was  Blown  Up. 

When  Mr.  Faust  had  bought  the  property,  he  started  a 
powder-mill  in  the  old  furnace-building.  This  was  operated  a  few 
years  and  was  in  charge  of  an  English-speaking  man,  James  Wat- 


151 

son.  Tradition  says  that  while  that  powder-mill  was  still  going, 
a  tramp  passed  the  place  one  day.  When  he  came  near,  he 
started  to  run  and  kept  on  running  until  he  was  at  a  considerable 
distance  on  the  other  side.  He  evidently  knew  the  powder-mill 
might  be  blown  up  at  any  moment,  so  the  quicker  he  would  get 
away  from  it  the  sooner  he  would  get  out  of  danger.  This  was 
practical  philosophy  on  the  part  of  the  hobo. 

One  afternoon  in  March,  1874,  ^^  I  was  sitting  in  my  room 
studying,  there  was  a  boom,  and  quickly  the  people  guessed  what 


Hampton  Schoolhouse," erected  in  1877,  and  Sigmund  Post  Office. 


it  meant.  From  near  and  far  they  came,  some  on  horseback,  to 
see  what  was  left  of  Mr.  Faust's  powder-mill.  It  was  just  as  they 
expected.  The  powder-mill  was  gone,  and  poor  old  Jimmy  Wat- 
son lay  dead  in  his  little  house  by  the  roadside  a  quarter  mile 
away.  His  head  was  burned  black,  a  gruesome  sight,  but  the 
doctor  was  probably  right  who  said  he  had  never  known  what 
killed  him.  No  tramp  had  probably  been  near,  but  one  of  Mr. 
Faust's  sons  was  so  scared  by  the  schock  that  he  overturned  the 
express-wagon  in  which  he  was  giving  his  younger  brother  a  ride. 
On  our  way  home  we  met  a  woman  who  lived  in  a  tenement  house 
near  the  powder-mill.  We  told  her  what  happened  and  she  began 
to  wring  her  hands,  crying  out:  "O,  met  G'scherr!  mei  G'scherrf" 
She  expected  to  find  her  chinaware  shattered,  and  this  worried 
her  more  than  her  old  neighbor's  sudden  and  violent  death. 


152 

The  Hampton  School. 

That  explosion  put  an  end  to  the  manufacture  of  powder  in 
that  locality.  Three  years  later,  in  1877,  a  schoolhouse  was  built 
at  the  juncture  of  the  roads,  a  little  distance  below  the  ruins  of 
the  furnace.  The  school  established  there  was  named  Hampton 
school,  and  it  was  the  writer's  privilege  to  teach  it  for  three  suc- 
cessive terms  of  five  months  each.  The  school  was  never  large 
numerically,  but  the  pupils  all  were  docile,  well  behaved  and  will- 
ing to  learn,  and  their  teacher's  reminiscences  of  his  work  among 
them  are  the  most  pleasant  of  the  whole  ten  years  of  his  profes- 
sional career.  Three  neighboring  families  contributed  the  larger 
part  of  the  school.  Teaching  there  was  really  a  delight,  and  the 
master's  earnest  efforts  for  the  advancement  of  his  pupils  were 
not  bestowed  in  vain. 

In  later  years  the  Hampton  school  became  so  weak  in  numbers 
that  it  was  discontinued  and  the  schoolhouse  threatened  to  fall 
into  ruins  for  want  of  use.  Last  year,  however,  it  was  reopened 
for  the  benefit  of  the  community's  children. 

A  Creamery  on  the  Old  Furnace  Site. 

In  1886,  Mr.  Faust  built  a  creamery  on  the  spot  where  once 
stood  the  Hampton  Furnace.  This  creamery  with  the  homestead 
now  belongs  to  his  son  of  like  name.  Mr.  Faust  the  elder,  who 
was  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  War  and  a  man  of  rnore  than  ordinary 
intelligence,  proved  a  good  friend  to  the  writer  while  the  latter 
had  charge  of  the  Hampton  school,  frequently  visiting  him  and 
occasionally  inviting  him  to  his  house.  He  died  in  November, 
1900,  of  a  lingering  illness,  probably  caused  by  a  severe  fall  sus- 
tained a  few  years  before. 

The  Survival  of  Old  Names. 

The  Hampton  Furnace  is  gone  forever;  so  are  the  men  who 
operated  it  forty,  fifty  and  more  years  ago.  But  its  memory 
remains  and  one-half  of  its  name  will  be  perpetuated  for  generations 
to  come  i'n  the  hill  which  rises  steep  and  hard  behind  it  to  the 
northwest,  known  since  the  days  of  our  grandfathers  as  der  Fur-, 
nace-Berg.  The  prior  half  of  its  name  is  given  to  the  school  near 
by,  and  the  name  of  Sigmund  is  kept  alive  in  that  of  the  post- 
office,  a  little  further  on,  now  conducted,  along  with  a  general 
country-store,  by  Ambrose  R.  Kemmerer.  There  are  still  living 
a  very  few  persons  who  were  connected  with  the  Hampton  Furnace 
in  the  days  of  its  activity,  and  we  cherish  the  hope  of  being  able 
some  day  to  add  their  reminiscences  as  a  sequel  to  the  present 
story. 


Allentown  and  Its  Vicinity  About 
Sixty  Years  Ago. 

By  Rev.  F.  J.  F.  Schantz,  D.  D. 


My  purpose  is  to  speak  this  afternoon  of  Allentown  and  its 
vicinity  as  I  saw  the  same  in  my  youth.  If  you  will  allow  me 
to  include  in  its  vicinity  all  within  ten  miles  of  Allentown,  then  I 
may  say  I  knew  considerably,  of  at  least  a  part,  its  vicinity  for 
sometime  before  my  acquaintance  with  Allentown  was  very 
extensive.  If  my  subject  would  be  the  "Head  of  Cedar  Creek 
and  its  vicinity  about  sixty  years  ago,"  I  would  have  much  to 
say  of  the  old  homestead  and  its  surroundings,  of  family,  neighbors 
and  visitors,  of  schoolhouses  and  scholars,  of  the  teachers,  Mr. 
Robert  Johnson,  Mr.  Benjamin  Hough,  Mrs.  Haas,  Mr.  Stephen 
Acker,  Mr.  Ephraim  Troxell,  Mr.  Butterweck,  Miss  Hannah  Knipe 
and  Mr.  Charles  Umbescheiden,  who  taught  at  the  old  home- 
stead, at  the  meeting  house  near  the  Alms  House,  at  Wescoesville, 
Foglesville,  Schaeffers,  Kuntzville,  Crackersport  and  Sand  Hole. 
I  would  also  have  to  speak  of  the  ministers:  Rev.  Jeremiah 
Schindel,  Rev.  Joseph  S.  Dubbs,  Rev.  Isaac  Roeller,  Rev  Charles 
Herman,  Rev.  Daniel  Zellers  and  Rev.  Benjamin  German,  who 
ministered  respectively  at  Jordan,  Foglesville,  Trexlertown, 
Salsburg  and  Lehigh  Church.  The  Sunday  Schools  were  at  the 
meeting  house  near  the  Alms  House,  at  the  Sand  Hole  school- 
house  and  at  Kuntzville.  I  saw  Rev.  Samuel  K.  Brobst  for  the 
first  time,  in  the  Summer  of  1847,  at  Millerstown,  now  Macungie, 
at  a  Sunday  School  celebration,  as  it  was  termed.  In  the  same 
year,  I  saw  the  first  number  of  the  Jugend  Freund.  Militia 
drills  at  hotels,  the  exercises  of  the  uniformed  Infantry  and 
Cavalry  Companies,  at  some  private  residence,  and  the  popular 
Battalion  in  some  village,  interested  the  old  and  young.  Men 
read  with  interest,  the  accounts  of  the  progress  of  the  War  with 
Mexico.  Even  boys  would  imitate  soldiers  and  fare  as  well 
and  again  worse  than  the  soldiers  at  home.  Political  meetings 
often  numbered  many  attendants.  Even  the  young  took  a  great 
interest  in  the  election ;  some  shouted  for  Clay,  Frelinghausen  and 
Markle,  and  others  for  Polk,  Dallas  and  Shunk.  The  first  verse 
of  a  political  song  of  that  time  read  thus: 


155 

"The  first  that  comes  is  the  New  York  State, 
Always  right  and  never  late, 
Throws  in  her  tremendous  vote 
For  George  M.  Dallas  and  James  K.  Polk. 
chorus: 

Ha!  ha!  ha!  what  a  nominee 

Is  Jimmy  Polk  of  Tennesee!" 

Numerous  teams  could  be  seen  on  the  country  roads  and 
when  a  driver  v^ould  be  asked  to  w^hat  place  he  v^as  taking  iron 
ore,  the  answer  would  be,  to  Allentown  Furnace  or  to  Craneville, 
as  Catasauqua  was  then  called.  In  the  winter  of  1843-44,  there 
was  a  public  sale  at  my  deceased  father's  house.  The  crier  at  the 
vendue,  who  had  his  home  in  Allentown,  spent  a  night  with  us. 
He  told  me  that  if  I  would  like  to  engage  in  raising  peanuts,  he 
would  send  some,  fit  for  planting.  Who  knows  what  fortune  I 
failed  to  make  by  declining  to  engage  in  the   proposed  business! 

I  had  a  limited  acquaintance  with  Allentown  before  the 
Spring  of  1848.  Memory  now  recalls,  prior  to  that  time,  the 
Allen  House,  the  residence  of  Dr.  Charles  H.  Martin,  at  Hamilton 
Street  and  Hall  Alley,  the  Presbyterian  Church,  the  old  North- 
ampton Bank  Building,  the  old  Watch  House,  in  front  of  the 
Bank  Building,  the  Lehigh  County  Jail,  the  Foundry  in  East 
Allentown,  the  residence  of  Rev.  Joshua  Yeager,  at  the  N.  E. 
corner  of  Hamilton  and  Fifth  Streets,  our  new  home  of  a  later 
day,  on  South  Seventh  Street,  the  Odd  Fellows'  Hall,  under 
construction,  the  Sunday  School  room  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
a  sick  brother  at  the  Allen  House,  1842-43,  the  Craig  family.  Dr. 
C.  H.  Martin's  family,  a  few  other  families,  the  cry  of  the  old 
watchman,  a  visit  to  the  Presbyterian  Sunday  School,  a  large 
military  encampment  south  of  the  Little  Lehigh,  a  Menagerie 
in  the  western  part  of  the  town  and  an  entertainment  by  Indians 
in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall. 

In  "about  60  years  ago,"  I  desire  to  include  the  years  dating, 
April,  1 848,  to  October,  1853.  In  April,  1848,  at  the  age  of  12  years, 
3  months  and  some  days,  I  was  brought  to  Allentown.  I  shall 
never  forget  our  moving  day  and  the  singular  impressions  on  the 
mind,  when  parting  from  the  old  homestead  at  the  head  of  Cedar 
Creek.  I  rode  with  Mr.  William  Dieterline,  whose  name  is  remem- 
bered by  others  to-day.  Pie  had  been  charged  with  the  safe 
conveyance  of  a  Conrad  Myer  piano,  from  the  old  homestead  to 
the  new  residence. 

It  seemed  very  strange  to  me  to  reside  in  a  town.  I  shall 
never  forget  my  first  reception  by  some  of  its  inhabitants.  A 
colored  boy  considered  it  his  duty  to  address  my  hat  in  German 
"Joe  Hut"!  Boys  on  the  street  saluted  me  by  saying  "Bush 
Knippel."  A  jolly  landlord  stopped  me  near  Seventh  and  Walnut 
and  informed  me  that  whilst  I  had  grown  in  length,  my  garments 


156 

had  not  done  so.  On  Hamilton  Street,  a  physician  called  me 
into  his  office,  took  a  knife  from  his  pocket,  opened  a  blade  and 
told  me,  that  he  would  render  me  a  kind  service  by  cutting  off 
the  buttons  on  the  back  of  my  coat,  since  it  was  not  fashionable 
for  boys  to  have  buttons  on  the  back  of  the  coat !  It  would  have 
been  a  matter  of  no  trouble  whatever,  to  induce  me,  about  that 
time  to  return  to  the  country,  where  no  one  would  have  called 
me  Bush  Knippel,  my  hat  Joe  Hut,  or  said  anything  about  my 
garments. 

AUentown  had  in  April,  1848,  a  population,  numbering 
possibly  not  more  than  3,500,  for  in  1850,  it  numbered  only  3,703 
inhabitants  and  619  houses.  It  has  now  enough  people  to  make 
nearly  twelve  towns  of  the  population  of  that  time.  Centre 
Square  was  then,  as  it  is  now,  the  centre  place  of  the  town,  if 
not  by  actual  measurement,  still  by  the  crossing  of  its  principal 
streets.  On  the  northern  part  of  the  square  the  old  Market 
House  was  to  be  seen.  The  Allen  House,  now  Hotel  Allen,  occupied 
its  present  site;  in  the  rear  of  it,-  sheds  extended  to  the  pavement. 
The  old  Northampton  Bank  building,  without  a  bank,  however, 
was  on  the  site  of  the  present  AUentown  National  Bank.  The 
building  on  the  opposite  corner  was  the  same  as  it  is  at  present, 
and  had  been  previously  used  by  the  then  defunct  Lehigh  County 
Bank.  The  N.  W.  Corner  of  Hamilton  and  Seventh  Streets,  was 
occupied  by  a  large  store  building.  On  the  opposite  corner 
was  the  old  stone  building,  owned  by  the  Hain's  family.  In  the 
rear  of  this  place  was  a  frame  or  log  building  built  long  ago. 
Further  south  were  the  three  Seagreaves  buildings,  of  brick.  Dr. 
Tilghman  H.  Martin  occupied  the  corner  where  the  Y.  M.  C.  A. 
building  now  stands.  On  the  opposite  corner  was  the  Boas 
home,  of  rough  cast  walls.  Opposite  the  Allen  House  was  Wil- 
son's corner,  a  large  stone  building  and  south  of  this  frame  struc- 
tures, one  of  which  was  used  as  a  stove  store. 

On  West  Hamilton  Street,  from  Seventh  to  Eighth,  houses 
stood,  built  closely  to  each  other.  From  Eighth  to  Tenth  Street, 
buildings  were  much  scattered.  West  of  Tenth,  there  were  but 
two  or  three  houses.  The  large  open  yards  of  the  old  Cross  Keys 
Hotel  and  the  numerous  lumber  yards,  took  up  much  space. 

On  East  Hamilton  Street,  the  space  between  the  Allen  House 
and  the  large  brick  building  on  Hamilton  Street  and  Church  Alley, 
was  occupied  by  low  frame  structures.  On  the  opposite  side, 
from  Wilson's  corner,  Wilson's  row,  buildings  one  and  three- 
fourths  of  a  story  high  extended  to  the  corner  of  Hamilton  Street 
and  Church  Alley.  The  north  and  south  sides  of  Hamilton  Street 
as  far  east  as  Fifth  Street,  were  occupied  by  buildings  varying 
greatly  in  appearance ;  some  were  of  stone,  some  of  brick  and  some 
of  wood.  From  Hamilton  and  Fifth  Streets  to  the  Jordan  Bridge, 
there  were  six  or  seven  buildings  on  the  north  side  and  only  two — 
Mrs.  Greenleaf 's  Mansion  and  the  Dissecting  Room  of  the  Home- 
opathic College  on  the  south  side. 


^57 

Seventh  Street  was  originally  the  principal  street  of  Allentown 
and  in  1848  it  had  a  number  of  very  old  houses.  There  were 
but  few  buildings  beyond  Chew  Street,  on  North  Seventh.  On 
South  Seventh  there  were  a  number  of  new  buildings  and  some 
old,  of  very  quaint  architecture. 

Tenth  Street  had  no  houses,  save  those  on  the  corner  of 
Hamilton  and  Tenth  Streets.  Ninth  Street  had  only  a  few ;  Eighth 
had  a  few  more;  Sixth  had  a  considerable  number;  Fifth  had 
very  few  buildings. 

Gordon,  Chew  and  Linden  Streets  had  each  some  scattered 
buildings ;  Walnut  had  but  a  few  west  of  Eighth  and  none  east  of 
Fifth,  excepting  Livingston  Mansion  and  its  large  barn. 

Union  Street,  in  fact  the  southern  hillside,  had  a  considerable 
number  of  buildings.  Lehigh  Street  (called  also  Water  Street) 
leading  from  Union  Street  to  the  Little  Lehigh,  had  a  large  number 
of  small  buildings  and  a  few  larger  residences. 

The  part  of  the  town  included  between  Hamilton  Street  on 
the  north,  Union  on  the  south.  Fifth  on  the  west  and  the  Jordan 
on  the  east,  had  only  the  Greenleaf  Mansion,  the  two  Homeopathic 
College  buildings,  on  Penn  Street,  Dissecting  Hall  on  Hamilton 
Street  and  the  old  Livingston  Mansion. 

On  Fourth  Street  north  of  Hamilton,  there  were  but  few 
buildings,  the  Freeborn  Foundry,  Hon.  Robert  E.  Wright's 
residence — the  present  site  of  the  College  for  Women — the  home 
of  Mr.  Daniel  Freytag,  later  the  Elliger  property,  and  beyond 
that  the  pleasant  home  of  John  S.  Gibbons,  Esq. 

All  east  of  Jordan  Bridge  on  Hamilton  Street  and  the  small 
bridge  south  of  this,  which  were  the  only  bridges  crossing  the 
Jordan  at  Allentown,  was  called  Mingo,  or  San  Domingo.  There 
were  a  few  buildings  on  Hamilton  Street  and  a  few  on  the  remain- 
ing streets,  including  the  foundry  on  Walnut  Street  and  the 
large  stone  houses  at  the  Lehigh  River.  A  large  wooden  bridge 
connected  Mingo  or  East  Allentown,   with  Hanover  Township. 

In  those  days  the  streets  had  not  yet  been  subjected  to  the 
severe  treatment  of  borough  and  city  councils,  civil  engineers 
and  contractors.  The  streets  were  very  good  in  summer  and  in 
winter,  not  as  good  as  country  roads.  The  side-walks  or  pave- 
ments were  according  to  the  ideas  of  that  day,  subject  to  many 
rises  and  falls  of  the  ground  and  of  the  people. 

There  were  at  that  time,  but  few  buildings  of  three  stories; 
the  Allen  House,  the  store  building,  northwest  corner  Hamilton 
and  Seventh  Streets,  the  Miller  building,  the  present  site  of  the 
Friedensbote  Book  Store,  the  American  Hotel,  the  four  (now  three) 
large  residences  opposite  the  Court  House,  the  two  Homeopathic 
College  buildings,  on  Penn  Street.  There  may  possibly  have 
been  a  few  more  that  memory  does  not  now  recall. 

The  churches  were  St.  Paul's  Lutheran,  an  old  building  on 
Eighth  Street,  the  German  Reformed  on  Hamilton  Street,  erected 


158 

about  1838,  the  Presbyterian  on  Fifth  Street,  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  on  Linden  above  Fifth  and  the  EvangeHcal  at  the 
corner  of  Ninth  and  Linden  Streets. 

The  Free  Hall  on  Linden  Street  near  Ninth,  had  been  erected 
in  the  interest  of  those  who  were  so  very  liberal  in  their  religious 
views,  that  as  there  was  no  more  religion  left  to  be  liberal  with, 
the  building  after  serving  for  a  time  for  public  meetings,  was 
turned  to  very  good  use  by  being  made  a  flour  and  feed  store. 

The  Court  House  at  its  present  site^  was  small,  compared 
with  its  present  dimensions.  The  old  County  Jail  at  the  south- 
east corner  of  Fifth  and  Linden  Streets,  was  a  gloomy  structure, 
well  calculated  to  alarm  boys  and  girls,  when  their  parents  prom- 
ised them  a  residence  in  the  same,  unless  their  conduct  would  be 
more  satisfactory  to  them. 

The  only  large  rooms  for  public  entertainments  were  the 
hall  in  the  Odd  Fellows'  Building,  the  Grand  Jury  Room  in  the 
Court  House,  the  Court  Room  itself  and  for  a  time  the  Free  Hall. 

The  Public  Schoolhouses  were  not  numerous.  One  was 
located  on  north  Fifth  Street,  and  was  formerly  the  old  Presby- 
'terian  Church.  The  Jail  was  north  and  the  new  Presbyterian 
Church  south  of  the  School  building.  Another  building,  occupied 
by  the  public  schools,  was  the  large  Temperance  House  on  Union 
Street,  west  of  seventh.  These  buildings  afforded  room  for  the 
schools  of  that  time. 

The  private  school  of  Mr.  James  Lee,  on  Union  Street  near 
Walnut,  was  still  in  existence. 

The  Allentown  Academy  at  the  corner  of  Eighth  and  Walnut, 
incorporated  in  18 14,  with  a  grant  of  two  thousand  dollars  from 
the  state,  was  in  charge  of  Robert  C.  Chandler,  A.  M. 

In  one  of  the  Homeopathic  College  buildings  (the  south 
building),  Mrs.  Young,  the  widow  of  Rev.  Andrew  Young,  and 
later  the  wife  of  Prof.  Cofhn,  of  Lafayette  College,  at  Easton,  had 
charge  of  a  Female  Seminary,  established  by  Rev.  Mr.  Young  a 
few  years  before  his  death  in  the  winter  of  1847  and  48. 

In  May,  1848,  the  Allentown  Seminary  was  opened  by  Rev. 
C.  R.  Kessler,  in  Livingston  Mansion,  the  property  of  Messrs 
Christian  Pretz  and  Henry  Weinsheimer. 

The  town  had  a  number  of  public  houses:  the  Allen  House, 
the  American,  a  hotel  kept  by  Mr.  Haberacker,  one  door  west 
from  the  Coiirt  House,  the  Eagle  Hotel,  two  doors  west  from 
Seventh  and  Hamilton,  the  old  Cross  Keys,at  Eighth  and  Hamilton, 
and  the  Rising  Sun,  at  Tenth  and  Hamilton  Streets.  On  North 
Seventh  were  the  Lafayette  and  one  at  the  southwest  corner  of 
Seventh  and  Linden  Streets.  On  South  Seventh,  Kramers'  was 
on  the  northeast  corner  of  Seventh  and  Walnut  Streets,  Reeses'  on 
the  west  side  of  Seventh  between  Walnut  and  Union  Streets,  the 
Mansion  House  at  the  foot  of  Seventh,  on  Union  Street.  There 
were  several  hotels  in  Mingo  and  one  beyond  the  Little  Lehigh. 


'       159 

The  principal  stores  were  those  of  Pretz  &  Weinsheimer, 
southeast  corner  of  Sixth  and  Hamilton,  Henry  Schnurman  at 
Wilson's  corner,  Grim  &  Renninger,  Thomas  B.  Wilson,  Peter 
Huber  and  others  on  West  Hamilton,  whose  names  I  can  not 
recall;  Dillinger  &  Craig  on  North  Seventh  Street,  E.  R.  Newhard 
&  Co.,  had  charge  of  a  hardware  store  on  West  Hamilton,  the 
Saeger  Bros,  and  Stephen  Barber  of  similar  stores  on  East  Hamil- 
ton Street. 

The  drug  stores  were  those  of  Ludwig  Schmidt,  John  B. 
Moser,  and  soon  after  the  fire  of  1848,  that  of  Dr.  W.  F.  Danowsky. 

The  jewellers  were  Joseph  Weiss,  Charles  B.  Massey  and 
George  Stein. 

The  town  had  many  places  occupied  by  mechanics  of  various 
branches,  needed  to  supply  the  wants  of  the  town  and  the  sur- 
rounding country. 
Tailors:     Charles  Keck,  Aaron  Troxel,  Charles  Scholl,   Edward 

Stettler  and  Joseph  Hartman. 
Shoemakers:     Jeremiah  Schmidt,  George  Lucas,  Jonathan  Reich- 

ard,  James  Roney  and Rieser. 

Hatters:     Capt.  Jacob  D.  Boas  and  James  Gangewere. 
Masons:     Daniel  Glace,  Phillip  Klee  and  the  Felkers. 
Bricklayers :     Joseph  Nunnemaker,  Daniel  Siegfried  and  the  Seips. 
Carpenters:     Messrs.  Balliet,   Butz,  David  Schwartz,  John  Diefen- 

derfer  and  W.  H.  Seip. 

Tinsmiths :     Amos  Ettinger,  James  Bush  and Hoffman. 

Painter:     James  Sieger. 

Cabinet  Maker:     Moses  Coolbaugh. 

Chairmakers:     Reuben  Reiss  and Newhard. 

Cedar  Cooper:     J.  O.  Cole. 

Blacksmiths:     Peter  Heller,  Charles  Wagner,  Samuel  Beidelman 

and  Peter  Newhard. 
Coach  Makers :     Keck  &  Stattler,  Peter  Lehr,  William  Fry,  Joseph 

Kramer. 

Wagoner:     Wolf. 

Agricultural  Implement  Makers:     Brader  &  Young,  Welcome  B. 

Powell  and  Yeakel. 

Daguerreotype  Taker:     Benjamin  Lochman. 
Gunsmiths:     Several  on  North  Seventh  Street. 

The  town  had  a  number  of  law  offices,  principally  on  East 
Hamilton  Street.  I  remember  the  following  practitioners :  Messrs. 
Henry  King,-  John  S.  Gibbons,  Samuel  A.  Bridges,  Robert  E. 
Wright,  Peter  Wykoff,  Henry  C.  Longnecker,  John  D.  Stiles, 
Charles  H.  Runk,  James  S.  Reese,  Charles  W.  Cooper  (residing 
at  Coopersburg),  Edward  J.  Mohr,  Elisha  Forrest  and  J.  De  Pay 
Davis. 

The  Doctors  of  Medicine  were  Doctors  Charles  H.  Martin, 
Tilghman  H.  Martin,  Charles  L.  Martin,  John  Romig  and  William 
J.  Romig.     Physicians  residing  at  Allentown  but  not  practicing 


i6o       ' 

regularly,  were  Doctors  Walter  C.  Martin  and  Tilghman  P.  Schantz, 
the  latter  an  invalid. 

The  town  had  a  number  of  printing  offices,  two  of  which  were 
in  connection  with  book  stores.  The  papers  printed  were  weeklies, 
semi-monthly  or  monthlies:  The  Unabhaengiger  Republicaner, 
the  Lecha  Patriot,  the  Friedensbote,  the  Allentown  Democrat,  the 
Lehigh  Register  and  the  Jugend  Freund  and  other  papers  of  Rev. 
S.  K.  Brobst.  The  daily  papers  principally  read  were  the  Public 
Ledger  and  North  American,  of  Philadelphia,  and  the  New  York 
Herald. 

The  Little  Lehigh,  Trout  Creek,  Cedar  Cre'ek,  the  Jordan 
and  the  Lehigh  River  afforded  water  power  for  grist  and  flouring 
mills  in  the  town  and  its  vicinity.  Along  the  Little  Lehigh  were 
also  Foundries,   Bottling  works  and  Gabriels  Coverlet  Factory. 

The  town  had  few  public  works,  the  Freeburn  Foundry  and 
the  Foundry  in  Mingo  have  already  been  named.  Allentown  Fur- 
nace, northeast  from  town,  was  in  operation. 

The  large  store  houses,  fronting  on  the  basin,  on  the  Lehigh 
River,  north  of  Hamilton  Street  and  west  of  Lehigh  Dam,  were 
of  great  importance  for  shipping  and  receiving  by  canal  boats, 
goods  of  every  variety.  The  Lehigh  Canal  was  of  great  benefit 
to  the  town.  In  winter,  however,  goods  had  to  be  hauled  on 
wagons  from  Philadelphia.  Numerous  freight  wagons  made 
regular  trips. 

The  town  had  three  fire  companies  and  each  had  an  engine — 
the  Friendship,  the  Lehigh  and  the  Humane. 

The  town  was  well  supplied  with  water  from  Wormans' 
spring.  The  reservoir  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  town,  and 
the  water  works  at  the  foot  of  the  southern  hillside  were  places 
of  interest.  The  town  had  then  no  burning  gas,  and  was  depend- 
ant on  fluid  and  camphene.  Many  persons  were  afraid  to  use 
these  and  used  the  lard  lamp,  and  the  tallow  or  spermaceti 
candle. 

There  was  no  telegraph  line  extended  to  Allentown  in  1848. 
There  were  no  railroads  near  then.  Daily  stages  were  necessary 
for  communication  with  Philadelphia,  New  York,  Reading,  Easton 
and  Mauch  Chunk.  There  was  no  bank  at  that  time  in  town,  none 
nearer  than  the  one  at  Easton.  The  town  limits  included  the 
old  burial  ground  at  the  corner  of  Tenth  and  Linden  Streets. 
Allentown  Cemetery  was  to  the  east  of  this.  Occasionally  there 
were  burials  in  the  rear  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  If  there 
were  other  burial  grounds  I  do  not  now  remember  them. 

Such  is  an  imperfect  outline  of  the  appearance  of  Allen- 
town, as  I  remember  to  have  seen  it  from  1848  to  1853.  Many 
changes  have  taken  place  in  the  years  that  followed.  Many  forces 
were  in  operation  from  1848  to  1853,  that  aided  in  the  remarkable 
growth  of  the  town,  that  has  become  a  prosperous  city. 

To  a  lad  of  twelve  years  not  only  the  buildings  of  the  town 


i6i 

were  of  interest,  but  also  the  many  new  faces  he  learned  to  know. 
He  had  also  to  become  acquainted  with  many  new  phases  of  life. 

Memory  recalls  the  new  home  on  South  Seventh  Street,  with 
a  widowed  mother,  two  brothers  and  one  sister  still  at  home.  New 
neighbors  whose  faces  had  not  been  seen  before,  were  now  to  be 
met  daily. 

The  churches  were  soon  visited  and  the  pastors  were  soon 
known:  Rev.  Joshua  Yeager,  Rev.  Joseph  S.  Dubb§,  Rev- 
Richard  Walker  and  Rev.  Mr.  Hare.  In  the  Lutheran  and 
Reformed  Churches,  as  also  in  the  Evangelical,  the  services  were 
conducted  in  German  and  in  the  Presbyterian  and  Methodist 
Episcopal,  in  English. 

An  early  entrance  as  a  pupil  of  the  Allentown  Academy  led 
to  an  acquaintance  with  the  boys  and  girls  who  attended  the 
school. 

The  Sunday  School  of  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  congre- 
gations held  in  the  Sunday  School  Room  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
was  at  once  visited  and  regularly  attended.  On  Easter  Monday 
evening  in  April,  1848,  the  Sunday  School  had  an  entertainment 
in  the  church.  Rev.  S.  K.  Brobst  had  requested  me  before 
moving  to  Allentown  to  commit  to  memory  two  selections,  one  in 
German  and  the  other  in  English  and  to  be  ready  to  recite  them 
at  this  entertainment.  I  recited  the  German  selection,  but  when 
I  was  announced  to  recite  the  selection  in  English,  I  failed  to 
respond — I  was  asleep. 

Home,  attendance  at  the  Academy,  Sunday  School  and  churchy 
were  enough  to  keep  the  mind  and  the  body  active. 

After  a  residence  of  about  seven  weeks  at  Allentown,  I  had 
an  experience  that  has  not  been  forgotten  and  will  not  be  forgotten 
as  long  as  memory  retains  its  power.  On  Ascension  Day,  Thurs- 
day, June  I,  1848,  the  great  fire  occured,  which  occasioned  a  loss 
of  about  $250,000  to  citizens  of  Allentown  and  others.  The  first 
alarm  of  fire  was  heard  in  the  afternoon  during  recess  at  school. 
The  ringing  of  bells,  the  cryof  the  people,  the  large  volume  of  smoke 
that  rose  to  the  heavens,  the  hurried  departure  from  the  academy, 
the  great  excitement  found  at  home,  the  hurried  movements  of 
the  people  on  the  streets,  the  cry  of  the  firemen  and  others  who 
labored  hard  to  arrest  the  advance  of  the  fire,  the  distressing  cries 
of  people  as  the  fire  made  further  progress,  the  wilder  ringing  of 
the  bells,  the  hurried  removal  of  furniture  from  our  homes,  the 
mental  agony  and  physical  exhaustion  of  many,  the  sympathy 
of  citizens  of  neighboring  homes  and  residents  in  the  country,  who 
had  hurried  to  town  to  aid  as  best  they  could,  the  approach  of 
night  and  the  continuation  of  the  fire,  will  not  be  forgotten.  On 
the  following  morning  the  loss  sustained  was  evident  to  every 
visitor.  From  Seventh  to  Eighth  Street,  every  building  fronting 
on  the  north  side  of  Hamilton  Street,  as  also  every  building  on 
the  respective  lots  in  the  rear,  was  in  ashes.     On  the  opposite, 


1 62 

the  south  side  of  the  street,  every  building  was  destroyed  except- 
ing the  residence  of  Miss  Catharine  Graff  and  two  frame  buildings 
near  the  corner  of  Eighth  and  Hamilton.  There  was  destruction 
of  barns  and  stables  on  the  rear  of  lots  similar  to  that  on  the  north 
side.  Several  buildings  were  destroyed  on  South  Seventh  Street. 
Many  houses  and  other  buildings  had  been  set  on  fire  by  the 
dropping  of  burning  shingles,  but  the  fire  in  such  cases  had  been 
speedily  extinguished.  Well  do  we  remember  the  sadness  of 
the  homeless,  but  we  recall  with  pleasure  the  spirit  of  true  broth- 
erly love  as  evident  in  the  kindness  shown  to  the  homeless  by 
those  who  invited  them  to  their  homes.  The  services  in  the 
churches  on  the  following  Sunday  were  very  solemn.  I  remember 
seeing  persons  at  service,  who  had  lost  their  homes. 

Whilst  the  great  fire  occasioned  a  great  loss  to  Allentown,  it 
is  also  true  that  the  progress  of  Allentown,  which  has  not  yet 
ended,  dates  from  the  time  of  the  great  fire.  The  summer  of 
1848  was  one  of  great  activity.  The  erection  of  new  buildings 
gave  employment  to  many  men  and  the  improvements  made  in 
the  burnt  district  filled  the  minds  of  citizens  in  other  parts  of  the 
town  with  the  spirit  to  improve  their  respective  properties  and 
to  invest  in  new  buildings. 

Burning  gas  was  introduced  by  Dr.  W.  F.  Danowsky  fh  1849. 
The  first  telegraph  was  constructed  and  put  in  working  order  in 
Allentown  in  1850.  The  first  Agricultural  Fair  was  held  in  the 
field  east  of  Fourth  Street,  between  Union  and  Walnut  Streets, 
in  1852. 

In  the  year  1853,  the  Lehigh  Valley  Railroad  was  under  con- 
struction and  filled  the  minds  of  many  persons  with  the  hope  of 
a  brighter  day  for  the  entire  Lehigh  Valley. 

In  these  years,  1848  to  1853,  there  was  a  remarkable  growth 
in  business  of  various  kinds  and  the  promise  given  of  the  growth 
of  Allentown  to  the  present  prosperous  state. 

Life  in  Allentown  in  those  days  was  not  without  interest, 
and  memory  recalls  to-day  many  of  its  striking  features,  to  which 
it  will  give  me  pleasure  to  refer  after  having  attempted  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  town  as  I  remember  to  have  seen  it. 

Home  Life  was  marked  by  the  presence  of  parents  and  children 
in  some  houses,  whilst  death  have  taken  a  parent,  a  child,  or 
children  from  others.  The  homes  of  those  days  were  as  com- 
fortable as  they  could  be  made  with  the  means  at  hand.  There 
was  not  much  costly  furniture.  A  two  or  three  ply  ingrain  carpet 
was  considered  good  enough  for  the  best  room  or  parlor.  Good 
cane  seat  chairs,  together  with  a  rocking  chair  and  settee  of  like 
make  and  occasionally  a  sofa,  were  considered  as  in  good  style. 
Parlor  ornaments  were  few  and  simple.  Sitting-rooms,  dining- 
rooms  and  kitchen  were  plainly  but  substantially  furnished. 
People  lived  plainly.  Food  was  not  near  as  costly  as  at  present. 
Good  beef  was  bought  at  8  and  10  cents  per  pound.     There  was 


i63 

no  market  house  after  1848.  The  large  lots  adjoining  residences, 
lots  on  the  border  of  the  town,  the  truck  farm  on  the  Island  as 
also  some  farms  in  the  country,  supplied  the  town  with  vegetables. 
Garments  worn  by  people  were  of  plain  make.  It  is  true  tailor's 
fashion  plates  changed  with  each  season,  but  the  cut  of  the  gar- 
ments made  by  some  did  not  change  as  rapidly.  Ladies  dresses 
were  not  near  as  costly  as  far  as  the  making  of  the  same  was  con- 
cerned. We  have  the  best  authority  for  stating  that  many  dresses 
fit  for  a  wedding  as  well  as  for  going  to  church  were  made  at  $2.00 
each,  and  dresses  for  wear  during  the  week  at  75  cents.  Of 
some  materials  only  9  or  10  yards  were  required  for  a  dress,  of 
others  12  yards  were  a  very  full  pattern. 

People  had  not  as  many  books  and  papers  as  people  now 
have,  but  what  they  had,  they  read  thoroughly.  Musical  instru- 
ments were  of  plainest  construction  and  proportionably  fewer  in 
number.  There  was  considerable  whole-souled  hospitality.  "Stay 
to  dinner"  was  no  empty  compliment,  which  you  were  expected 
to  decline.  It  meant  what  the  words  signified.  To  call  was  to 
spend  an  evening  pleasantly  at  the  house  of  another.  To  visit 
meant  to  stay  all  night  and  next  day  too,  and  to  be  comfortably 
entertained. 

School  Life.  I  am  not  able  to  speak  of  the  public  schools 
after  1848  from  personal  attendance.  When  residing  in  the 
country  I  attended  public  school  at  Foglesville,  Schaeffers  and 
Kuntzville  in  winter,  and  pay  schools  in  summer  in  various  school- 
houses.  Of  these,  the  Schulhaus  am  Sandloch  was  very  dear  to 
me.  The  teachers  of  the  public  schools  at  Allentown  were  active 
men  and  women,  -Many  citizens  heartily  supported  the  schools 
in  other  ways  than  simply  by  paying  their  taxes.  Mr.  Jonathan 
Reichard,  Dr.  Tilghman  H.  Martin,  Mr.  Reuben  Guth  and  Kli  J. 
Saeger,  Esq.,  were  among  the  warm  friends  of  the  public  schools 
in  Allentown. 

Mr.  James  Lee's  School  was  noted  for  thorough  instruction 
and  strict  discipline,  characteristics  that  might  with  profit  be 
added  to  the  features  of  many  schools  of  the  present  day. 

Nearly  two  years'  attendance  at  the  Allentown  Academy, 
from  April,  1848,  to  February  or  March,  1850,  was  at  the  time 
when  Robert  C.  Chandler,  A.  M.,  was  principal  of  the  school.  He 
was  assisted  by  Prof.  Edward  C.  Foote,  Richard  H.  Chandler,  F. 
C.  H.  Lampe  and  Mrs.  Blydenburg  (later  Mrs.  Robert  C.  Chandler) 
and  others.  The  school  was  attended  by  boys  and  girls  and 
young  men  and  young  ladies  old  enough  to  be  married.  Those 
were  happy  days  for  the  boys  and  girls.  In  the  schoolroom  and 
classroom  close  attention  had  to.  be  given  to  study  and  recitation. 
On  the  playground  there  was  an  abundance  of  fun  and  harmless 
sports.  In  the  evening  there  were  often  pleasant  gatherings  at 
the  Academy.  The  Little  Lehigh  in  summer  and  the  fine  slopes  on 
the  southern  hillside  of  town  in  winter,  were  favorite  resorts  of 


164 

the  pupils.  There  were  often  special  entertainments  for  pupils 
and  friends  in  the  Academy  Building.  The  semi-annual  public 
entertainments  of  the  school  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  were  occasions 
of  great  interest  to  teachers,  pupils,  patrons  and  citizens  in  general. 
The  Academy  had  in  those  years  pupils  from  town  and  country 
and  was  in  a  flourishing  condition.  I  shall  ever  remember  those 
days  with  great  interest.  I  liked  the  Academy  boys,  although 
some  had  called  me  Bush  Knippel.  I  also  liked,  and  I  must  say 
a  little  more  than  liked  at  least  one  of  the  Academy  girls. 

The  catalogue  of  the  Academy,  for  the  year  during  1849  and 
also  that  of  1850  showed  a  large  attendance  of  pupils.  I  have 
a  programme  of  an  Annual  Entertainment  of  the  Allentown 
Academy,  on  July  31st,  1849,  to  which  it  gives  me  pleasure  to 
direct  your  attention. 


ALLENTOWN     ACADEMY 


ANNUAL  FESTIVAL 

At  the   New  Odd   Fellow's   Hall, 

Tuesday,  July  31,  1849. 


ORDER  OF  EXERCISES. 

AFTERNOON, 

To  Commence  at  3  O'clock. 
Singing — "Never  look  Sad." — Mason. 
Declamation — "Extract  from  Webster's  Bunker  Hill  Monument 

Speech,"  F.  J.  F.  Shantz. 

Dialogue — "The  Choice  of  Countries," 

A.  C.  Pretz,  L.  R.  a.  Shantz,  J.  A.  Blumer,  W.  J.  P.  Weiss. 
Recitation— "The  Clean  Face,"  W.  J.  Grim. 

Singing — "The  Mower's  Song." — German  Melody. 

Declamation — "America — Her  Example,"  L.  F.  Schmidt. 

Dialogue — "My  Mother's  Gold  Ring" — A  Temperance  Dialogue. 

Robert,  a  sailor  boy,  A.  F.  Barber. 

William,  his  brother,  A.  C.  Pretz. 

Declamation — "Make  way  for  Liberty,"  T.  B.  LeisEnring. 

Declamation — "The  Snow,"  D.  F.  Mertz. 

Singing — "Try,  try  again." — Bradbury. 

Declamation — "Return  of  La  Fayette  to  America,"  A.  C.  Pretz- 

Dialogue — "The  Traveler  in  a  Fix,  or  The  road  to  Squire  Wilson's." 
3  Scenes — all  on  the  road. 

Mr.  Nixon,  the  traveler,  W.  J.  Erdman. 

Squire  Wilson,  T.  Ginkinger.^ 


i65 

Irishman,  Robert  Gibons. 

Dutchman,  L.  F.  Schmidt. 

Yankee,  E.  G.  Martin. 

Frenchman,  F.  J.  F.  Shantz. 

Pete,  A.  Burger. 

Recitation— "The  Essence  Boy,"  F.  S.  Weiss. 

Singing — "The  Bugle  Horn." — Bradbury. 
Reading — Original  Compositions  of  Advanced  Pupils. 
Declamation — Class  No.  i. 
Declamation — Class  No.  2. 
Dialogue — "The  School  in  an  Uproar."     School  of  25  scholars. 

Schoolmaster,  John  Dilunger. 

Jack  Scrubbs,  a  wandering  fellow,  good  for 

nothing  but  to  make  trouble,  P.  P.  Haas. 

Singing — Music  without  words — "Come  to  the  Old  Gum  Tree." 

DISTRIBUTION  OF  PREMIUMS. 

Recitation — From  "Lalla  Rookh,"  A.  J.  Martin. 

Dialogue — From  "The  Bashful  Man," 

Scene  I  St — The  Library.     Scene  2nd —  The  Dining-room. 

Mr.  Blushington,  an  extremely  bashful  young  man, 

W.  A.  RoNEY. 

Gyp,  his  body  servant,  A.  J.  Martin. 

Sir  Thomas  Friendly,  a  gouty  old  gentleman,     J.  Bai^liet. 

Lady  Friendly,  his  wife,  F.  J.  F.  Shantz. 

Miss  Amanda,  his  daughter,  E.  G.  Martin. 

Frank,  his  son,  A.  R.  Newhard. 

Nick,  F.  S.  Weiss. 

Evans,  T.  B.  LEisEnring. 

EVENING, 
To  Commence  at  7^  O'clock. 
Singing — '  *  Echo  Song, ' '  — Rossini. 

Declamation — "Extract  from  a  Speech  on  the  Irish  Union, "E.  G.  Martin. 
Recitation — "The  Castle  Buildei,"  A.  C.  PrETZ. 

Singing — "Summer. ' '  — Ger rrian  Melody. 

Declamation — "S.  Carolina  during  the  Revolution,"  W.  A.  Roney. 

Dialogue — "School  in  an  Uproar." — Same  as  in  the  Afternoon. 
Recitation— "The  Revellers,"  A.  J.  Martin 

Singing — "Vine  Dresser's  Song." — Von  Webt-r. 

Recitation— "The  Noble  Sailor,"  A.  F.  Barber. 

Dialogue — "The  Traveler  in  a  Fix,  or  The  Road  to  Squire  Wilson's." 

Same  as  in  the  Afternoon. . 
Singing — "May  comes  laughing  o'er  the  plain." 

Declamation — Class  No.  i,  21  Scholars. 

Declamation — Class  No.  2,  21  Scholars. 

Recitation — "The  American  Indians,"  '  A.  B.  Keck. 


i66 

Dialogue — "The  Spirit  Whistle  of  the  Allentown  Furnace." 

characters: 
Mr.  Starbins — the  submissive  Shoemaker,         P.  P.  Haas. 
Mrs.  Starbins — his  high  spirited  and  much  abused 

wife,  L.  F.  Schmidt. 

Mr.  Shortcommons — a  tailor  who  cabbages  but 

little,  S.  P.  Newhard. 

Mrs.  Shortcommons — something  of  a  Politician. 

T.  B.  Leisenring. 
Mr.  Thinkdeep — quite  an  active  Politician,  A.  J.  Martin. 
Neighbor,  T.  Ginkinger. 

ist  and  3d  Scenes — Starbin's  shop.     2nd  Scene — Shortcommon's. 
Singing — Music  without  words — "Old  Ned." 

Declamation — "Byron's  Battle  of  Waterloo,"  F.  J.  F.  Shantz. 

Recitation — "Innovation,"  L.  F.  Schmidt. 

Dialogue — From  "Fish  out  of  Water." 

characters: 
Sir  Geo.  Courtley,  recently  appointed  Ambassador 

to  Denmark,  D.  J.  Martin. 

His  Steward,  L.  F.  Schmidt. 

Alderman  Gayfare — Sir  Geo.  C's  banker,  a  notorious 

epicure,  W.  J.  Erdman. 

Charles,  his  son,  violently  in  love  with      F.  J.  F.  Shantz. 
Ellen,  daughter  of  Sir  George,  Miss  C.  S.  Saeger. 

Lucy,  her  friend  and  confidant,    Miss  M.  A.  Rosenstiel. 
Sam.  Savory — a  cook  recently  discharged  by  Alderman 

Gayfare,  now  in  want  of  a  place,  E.  G.  Martin. 

Footman,  H.  Lightcap. 

ist  and  2nd  Scene  in  the  Ante-Room — 3d  Scene  in  the  Dining-room. 
Singing — "Vacation  or  August  Pastimes." 

Valedictory  Address — written  by  the  speaker,  D.  J.  Martin. 

The  singing  will  be  accompanied  by  the  Piano  Forte. 

The  Female  Seminary,  in  the  south  Homeopathic  College 
Building  on  Penn  Street,  was  in  charge  of  Mrs.  Young,  the  widow 
of  Rev.  Andrew  Young.  Miss  Baldwin,  later  the  wife  of  Wm.  S. 
Marx,  Esq.,  was  an  assistant  teacher.  A  goodly  number  of  young 
ladies  attended  the  school.  It  was  an  excellent  school  for  young 
ladies  and  whilst  I  could  not  be  a  pupil  of  the  same,  I  still  received 
some  profitable  instruction  in  said  school,  for  which  I  was  never 
charged  a  cent.  I  well  remember  that  on  one  Sunday  evening, 
a  young  Master  Von  Tagen  and  I  called  at  the  Female  Seminary. 
We  were  kindly  received  and  pleasantly  entertained  by  Mrs. 
Young  and  the  ladies.  When  we  left,  which  was  in  good  time,  Mrs. 
Young  accompained  us  to  the  door,  thanked  us  for  calling,  invited 
us  to  come  again,  but  requested  us  not  to  call  again  on  Sunday 
evening.  Mrs.  Young  has  never  been  forgotten  as  a  lady  of  great 
ability,  of  christian  bearing,  of  perfect  self-control,  of  genuine 
politeness,  even  in  teaching  young  masters  profitable  lessons 
not  to  be  forgotten. 


i67 

Allentown  Seminary  was  opened  in  1848  by  Rev.  Christian 
R.  Kessler,  in  Livingston  Mansion,  as  already  stated.  The  parlor 
was  used  as  a  schoolroom.  The  east  wing  of  the  old  building  of 
Muhlenberg  College  was  the  Mansion.  It  had,  however,  only  two 
stories  with  an  attic.  East  of  it  was  a  long  stone  building  used 
as  a  laundry.  This  place  was  of  historic  interest,  the  place  where 
the  Aliens  and  their  friends  often  tarried  when  they  had  come  from 
Philadelphia  to  fish  and  hunt,  more  than  a  century  ago.  The 
school  had  at  first  only  a  few  pupils.  The  first  object  in  view  had 
been  to  meet  the  want  of  a  Normal  school.  The  project  was  in 
advance  of  the  demands  of  the  time.  The  character  of  the  school 
had  to  be  changed.  During  the  years  1848  and  1849,  the  remark 
was  repeatedly  made,  "  Kessler's  school  will  not  set  the  Lehigh  on 
fire."  It  is  true  it  performed  no  miracles,  but  it  nevertheless 
did  have  a  wonderful  effect  on  the  people  of  Lehigh  and  adjoining 
counties.  The  school  gradually  grew  in  the  number  of  its  pupils, 
so  that  at  the. close  of  the  summer  term  of  1853,  the  school  num- 
bered one  hundred  and  forty-eight  pupils.  After  the  close  of 
Mrs.  Young's  Female  Seminary,  a  female  department  was  added 
to  Allentown  Seminary.  I  have  seldom  noticed  such  wonderful 
growth  of  a  school.  Its  success  was  owing  to  the  internal  arrange- 
ments of  the  school,  to  its  Christian  character,  to  its  thoroughly 
strict  discipline,  to  the  hearty  support  given  to  it  by  pastors  of 
churches  in  town  and  country  and  citizens  in  general.  Rev.  S. 
K.  Brobst  did  all  that  he  possibly  could,  by  means  of  his  Jugend 
Freund,  by  sermons  in  churches,  by  addresses  in  schoolrooms,  as 
also  by  personal  interviews  to  increase  the  attendance  of  the  school. 
The  schoolroom  was  at  first  the  parlor  in  the  Mansion,  then  in 
the  stone  building,  east  of  the  Mansion,  refitted  to  be  a  commodious 
schoolroom.  Later  the  west  wing  of  Muhlenberg  College  was 
erected.  On  the  first  floor  were  the  Female  Schoolrooms,  a 
recitation  room  and  a  room  for  the  primary  department.  On  the 
second  floor  the  boys'  school  and  recitation  rooms.  The  third 
story  was  a'dormitory  for  the  boarders,  who  could  not  be  accommo- 
dated in  the  old  Mansion.  Near  the  close  of  1853,  the  erection 
of  the  central  building  filling  the  space  between  east  and  west 
wings,  had  already  became  a  necessity  and  preparations  were 
made  for  the  execution  of  the  plan.  Messrs.  Pretz  and  Weins- 
heimer  manifested  a  proper  interest  in  the  prosperity  of  the  school, 
by  readily  adding  the  buildings  that  were  necessary  for  the 
increased  attendance.  The  teachers  of  the  school  were  from 
1848  to  1853,  Rev.  C.  R.  Kessler,  A.  M.,  Messrs.  John  Weik,  J.  B. 
Evans,  C.  L.  Lochman,  W.  S.  Marx  (for  a  short  time  as  a  supply), 
Rev.  Franklin  J.  Mohr,  Prof.  C.  F.  Wulff,  Prof.  F.  R.  Gerlach,  Prof. 
C.  F.  Herman,  Mr.  Thomas  J.  Gross,  Miss  Eveline  Black  and  Miss 
Malvina  Stanton.  I  would  not  dare  to  attempt  to  name  the  pupils 
of  the  school.  I  attended  the  school  from  March  1850  to  Sept. 
1853- 


i68 

The  Shakespeare  Literary  Society  was  organized  in  the  fall 
of  1849.  Not  only  pupils  of  the  seminary  but  also  young  men 
from  town  could  become  members.  In  the  fall  of  1850,  Hon. 
Robert  E.  Wright  delivered  the  first  honorary  address,  at  the 
anniversary  of  the  society  held  in  Odd  Fellows'  Hall.  Henry 
C.  Bonsall,  Esq.,  a  law  student,  delivered  the  honorary  address 
in  1 85 1,  and  Rev.  B.  M.  Schmucker,  in  1852.  I  rejoice  in  having 
the  old  constitution  of  the  society.  The  very  reading  of  the 
names  of  thoge  who  signed  the  same,  is  of  great  interest  at  this 
time:  J.  B.  Evans,  William  J.  Erdman,  David  H.  Hunter,  Wm. 
M.  Hand,  F.  J.  F.  Schantz,  Thomas  Keck,  Henry  A.  Wilson,  Henry 
C.  Hardtner,  Theodore  E.  Freytag,  Eugene  Myer,  Alfred  G.  Saeger, 
Alfred  C.  Pretz,  Jacob  B.  Geib,  Edward  B.  Young,  J.  R.  Meyer, 
Owen  Seip,  Dewees  J.  Martin,  John  H.  Zuilch,  Philip  S.  Pretz, 
George  J,  Snyder,  Charles  F.  Knerr,  Israel  F.  Guth,  Jacob  S.  Dury, 
William  Koch,  Franklin  Beck,  Theodore  C.  Stryker,  C.  R.  Kessler, 
Francis  Pfeiffer,  Edwin  G.  Martin,  J.  N.  Heilman,  Theodore  C. 
Yeager,  Amos  Steckel,  Lewis  F.  Schmidt,  Lucian  J.  Moyer,  Otto 
Giesse,  Lewis  Steckel,  J.  Kumerle,  Joseph  H.  E.  Dubbs,  Gabriel 
Knecht,  John  Zarik,  J.  F.  Brown,  H.  Giesse,  Theodore  B.  Groot, 
Lewis  Miller.  Other  names  were  added  later,  but  not  entered  on 
the  first  copy  of  the  constitution.  The  very  hearing  of  these 
names  is  sufficient  to  recall  the  most  pleasant  memories.  This 
society  had  a  course  of  lectures  delivered  by  prominent  gentlemen 
in  the  winter  of  1852  and  1853.  The  proceeds  were  for  the 
society's  library.  Some  of  the  books  of  this  library  ought  to  be, 
to-day,  in  the  college  library.  The  instruction  of  the  seminary, 
as  said  before,  was  thorough,  the  discipline  was  strict,  with  proper 
regard  for  the  students'  welfare.  If  the  walls  of  northeast  room 
of  east  wing  of  the  old  college  could  speak,  they  might  tell  us  what 
happened,  when  the  principal,  a  pupil  and  a  Cat-o-nine-tail  or 
new  rattan  met  alone  within  the  same !  The  enjoyments  of  the 
pupils  within  the  limits  of  due  propriety  were  the  truest  and  most 
cheering.  The  principal  was  strict  in  the  schoolroom,  he  was 
deeply  interested  in  the  intellectual  and  spiritual  progress  of 
students,  but  he  was  also  interested  in  their  physical  welfare. 
The  stern  man  of  the  schoolroom,  could  join  the  students  on  the 
campus,  take  off  his  coat,  and  show  the  boys  how  to  become  good 
Turners  by  a  proper  use  of  the  gymnastic  rails.  He  encouraged 
also  the  pupils,  under  the  supervision  of  assistant  teachers  or 
older  students  to  make  good  use  of  the  Jordan  and  Lehigh  in 
summer  and  in  winter.  The  extended  walks  to  the  country  are 
not  forgotten.  And  who  of  the  old  pupils  does  not  remember  the 
pleasant  summer  and  winter  excursions  to  Easton,  Nazareth, 
Bath,  Kutztown  and  other  places?  Who  can  forget  how  Satur- 
days were  spent  in  fishing  in  the  various  streams  and  hunting  in 
fields,  meadows  and  on  the  mountains?  Who  does  not  remember 
the  Fourth  of  July  celebrations  on  the  campus?   The  town  people 


169 

took  an  interest  in  the  same.  I  have  at  home  the  manuscript  of 
an  address  deUvered  on  the  campus  on  July  4th,  1853,  near  the 
close  of  day.  Fire  works  followed  the  music  and  addresses. 
The  semi-annual  entertainments  of  the  seminary  at  the  close  of 
each  session  were  occasions  of  great  interest  to  the  large  audience 
that  filled  Odd  Fellows'  Hall  and  on  some  occasions  the  Reformed 
Church.  To  those  who  left  for  college  or  for  the  active  duties  of  life, 
the  parting  from  school  was  always  with  sorrow.  Recently  a  lady  of 
Allentown  sent  me  a  program  of  an  entertainment  of  Allentown 
Seminary,  held  in  the  Fall  of  1852,  at  the  close  of  the  school  term. 


Introductory  Address, 
Recitation — "Thanksgiving  Day," 
Recitation — "The  Dilatory  Scholar," 
Recitation — "One  Good  Turn  Deserves  Another," 
Recitation — "The  Old  Man's  Comforts," 
Recitation — "The  Little  Lord  and  Farmer," 
Recitation — "The  Freed  Bird," 
Recitation — "Ambition  False  and  True," 

Recitation— ,,®ie  Seibett  ^obtett  ^opfe/' 
Recitation — ,,®er  Sdr  unb  bie  33tenen/' 
Singing— „2l5enblieb  fro^er  2anbleute." 

Singing — "Song  of  Praise  to  the  Creator." 

Singing — "We're  Learning  Something  New." 

Recitation — "The  Boy  and  Snake," 

Recitation — "Our  Country," 

Recitation — "Trust  in  the  Goodness  of  God," 

Recitation — ' '  Gold, ' ' 

Recitation — "Cruelty," 

Recitation — "Work  and  Play," 

Recitation — "Intemperance," 

Recitation — "The  Red  Sky," 

Recitation— „®er  5luffc^ub/' 

Dialogue— "The  Schoolmaster,"  T.  E. 

Singing— "The  Life  Clock." 
Singing — "Morning  Pleasures." 
Singing — "Beauties  of  Spring." 
Recitation — "The  Indian  Chief," 

Recitation— ,,2) ag  ^inbmit  ber  ©c^eere/' 

Recitation — "The  Removal," 
Declamation — "Nature," 
Declamation — "Keeping  up  Appearances," 
Recitation— ,,^ell  (?iJionIog)/' 

Declamation— ,,®er  Xob  fur'g  SSatcrlaub/'  L 

Dialogue — "Captain  Hardy  and  Nathan," 

H,  A.  VoGELBACH  and 

Singing— ,, 2(6 enb  ©lodtd^en." 

Singing — "Night  Song." 


By  H.  S.  Knowles. 

A.  S.  Weinsheimer. 

G.  D.  Hart. 

M.  Teller. 

W.  H.  Gabriel. 

J.  P.  Reichard. 

J.  F.  Weinsheimer. 

W.  H.  Snyder. 

.  A.  WOLLENWEBER. 
A.  VOGELBACH. 


J.  La  WALL. 

J.  T.  Allburger. 
S.  H.  Knauss. 

A.  S.  GUTH. 

T.   SCHRAIR. 

C.  H.  RONEY. 

A.  G.  Weikel. 

H.  G.  Reichard. 

C.  J.  Smith. 

Freytag  and  others. 


O.  A.  Miller 
H.  H.  Martin. 
P.  LEisenring. 
S.  P.  Kern. 
D.  F.  Mertz. 
T.  C.  Yeager. 
.  Hollenbach. 


R.  F.  Seager. 


H.   A.  VOGELBACH. 

J.  A.  Blumer. 

O.   HOLBEN. 

J.  Y.  Krauss. 
L.  Derr. 

A.  C.  Pretz. 

C.  E.  Meyer. 

C.  E.  V.  V.  Clark. 

H.  S.  Knowles. 


170 

Singing — "Stars." 

Recitation— ,,®er  ^anxx  tm  9J^onb/' 

Declamation — "Application," 
Recitation — ,  ,^olx)taxp  / ' 
Declamation — "Slumber," 

Recitation— ,,@ott  ber  ©efe^gebcr/' 

Dialogue — "Goody  Grim  vs.  Lapstone." 

Judge, 

Coun.  Puzzle, 

Mordecai,  a  Jew, 

Coun.  Botherexn, 
Singing — "Harvest  Time." 

Singing — "O  Youth  is  not  the  Time  for  Care." 
Singing — "Our  Excursion." 

intermission. 

Singing — "Sailor  Boy's  Carol." 
Singing — "America,  I  Love  Thee  Still." 
Singing — "Courtlandvill." 
Recitation — "Village  Greatness," 
Declamation — "Character  of  Christ," 
Declamation — "Peace  and  National  Honor," 
Declamation — "Improvement," 
Recitation — "Scene  of  Horror," 
Declamation — "Courtship  of  Jerush," 
Declamation — "Value  of  National  Union," 
Singing— "The  Banner  of  the  Free." 
Singing — "Our  Native  Land." 

Singing— „3)er  ^flad^tigall  Slntroort." 

ORIGINAL  ADDRESSES. 

' '  Perseverance, ' ' 

„^er  ©ommer  3Jiorgen/' 

"Night," 

"Ignorance  and  Knowledge," 

"The  Spirit  of  the  Age," 

"Character  of  the  Pilgrim  Fathers," 

"Knowledge," 

"Valedictory," 

Singing — "Kathleen  O' Moore." 

Singing — "The  Chamois." 

Singing — "The  Spot  Where  I  Was  Born." 

N.  B.     At  the  beginning  of  the  exercises  and  at  intermission  several 
of  the  pupils  will  perform  on  the  Piano. 


C.  J.  Smith. 

D.  J.  KUNTZ. 

E.  F.  Powell. 

L.  J.  Mayer.. 

E.  v:  V.  Clark. 

J.   P.  SCHINDEL. 

A.  C.  Pretz. 


E.  H.  M.  Sell. 

S.  Gross. 

C.  E.  MEYE&. 

.  B.  Kaemmerer. 

H.  M.  NaglE. 

J.  H.  E.  Dubs 

F.  J.  F.   SCHANTZ. 
W.  R.   HOFFORD. 


I  still  have  the  copy  of  the  Valedictory — at  the  close  of  the 
second  school  term  in  the  Fall  of  1853 — when  several  of  us 
students  left  for  college. 


171 

If  I  would  be  allowed  to  go  beyond  1853,  i^  niy  address  to- 
day, it  would  be  interesting  to  present  the  history  of  the  school 
in  bright  days  and  dark  days,  down  to  1867,  when  Muhlenberg 
College  was  organized  and  female  education  was  provided  for 
by  the  establishment  of  the  College  for  Women. 

Churches,  Sunday  Schools  and  Synodical  Meeting.  Old  St. 
PauFs  Bv.  Lutheran  Church  on  Eighth  Street  was  of  ancient 
architecture.  Its  wine  glass  pulpit,  with  sounding  board,  its  high 
altar,  its  high  backed  pews,  its  high  galleries,  its  large  pipe  organ, 
its  arched  windows  and  large  double  doors,  its  aisles  without 
carpet,  its  pews  without  cushions,  its  large  stoves,  its  massive 
chandeliers,  are  all  well  remembered.  Rev.  Joshua  Yeager  was 
the  pastor  and  continued  as  such  until  the  spring  of  1852.  He 
preached  only  in  German.  The  congregation  numbered  many 
members,  many  of  whom  resided  in  the  country.  In  the  Fall  of 
1 85 1,  Father  Yeager  instructed  and  confirmed  his  last  class  of 
catechumens  at  AUentown,  which  numbered  about  60  members. 
The  class  usually  met  on  Tuesday  morning.  I  can  well  remember 
the  tall  pastor  of  commanding  appearance,  entering  the  church. 
Most  of  the  catechumens  had  the  German  Catechism,  a  few,  the 
English.  The  instruction  was  principally  in  German.  The  pastor 
was  very  faithful  in  imparting  instruction.  Mr.  Jacob  Slemmer, 
the  organist,  attended  occasionally  to  teach  us  to  sing  the  con- 
firmation hymns.  Father  Yeager  insisted  on  the  observance  of 
good  order.  When  the  class  was  first  organized  the  boys  and 
young  men  were  seated  to  the  left,  and  the  girls  and  young  ladies 
to  the  right  of  the  altar.  After  some  weeks  had  passed.  Father 
Yeager  must  have  noticed  that  when  his  face  was  turned  towards 
the  young  ladies,  the  young  men  to  the  rear  of  him  must  have 
become  objects  of  interest  to  the  young  ladies,  who  were  disposed 
to  look  beyond  the  place  where  Father  Yeager  stood.  Father 
Yeager  was  equal  to  the  emergency  for  he  turned  towards  the 
young  men  and  said,  "Buwe,  maschirt  danueber,  hinter  die 
Maedchen . ' '  The  boys  had  to  march  and  the  girls  were  able  to  give 
undisturbed  attention  to  Father  Yeager  and  the  boys  could  no 
longer  attract  the  attention  of  the  girls.  Beyond  this  little 
occurrence  there  was  usually  good  attention,  and  I  think  deep 
interest  in  the  instruction  imparted.  The  day  of  confirmation 
was  a  solemn  occasion.  Some  of  the  class  of  1857  continue 
active  members  of  the  Christian  church. 

In  the  Spring  of  1852,  Rev.  Jacob  Vogelbach,  a  most  able 
German  preacher,  succeeded  Father  Yeager  as  pastor.  In  the 
fall  of  the  same  year,  1852,  Rev.  B.  M.  Schmucker  was  called  to 
officiate  in  the  English  language.  Fifty-four  years  have  passed 
since  my  first  introduction  to  Dr.  Schmucker.  Little  did  I  dream 
then,  that  during  many  years,  we  would  be  associated  in  church 
work.  The  attendance  at  the  German  service  conducted  by 
pastor  Vogelbach,  was  very  large.     The  audiences  at  the  services 


172 

in  English  were  like  the  day  of  small  things,  not  to  be  despised,  but 
carefully  nurtured  as  the  promise  of  a  prosperous  future.  At 
that  time  the  number  of  members  appreciating  a  service  in  Eng- 
lish was  limited.  The  contrast  in  the  attendance  was  great, 
yet  the  few  who  attended  the  first  service  in  English  were  glad 
to  have  the  same  and  were  hopeful  as  to  the  future. 

In  the  German  Reformed  Church  on  Hamilton  Street,  Rev. 
Joseph  S.  Dubbs  officiated  in  the  German  language.  The  attend- 
ance at  this  church  was  also  good.  As  the  Reformed  and  Luth- 
eran congregations  did  not  have  their  service  in  German  at  the 
same  hour,  the  attendance  in  each  church  was  large.  Rev.  C.  R. 
Kessler,  Principal  of  the  Allentown  Seminary,  and  Rev.  A.  J.  G. 
Dubbs  officiated  for  some  time  in  English,  with  considerable  reg- 
ularity. 

I  have  a  distinct  recollection  of  hearing  Rev.  William  Rath 
preach  in  the  German  Reformed  Church,  whilst  he  was  a  student 
of  Rev.  Jeremiah  Schindel. 

In  the  Presbyterian  Church  a  singular  arrangement  as  to 
the  pulpit  remains  unforgotten.  The  pulpit  stood  between  the 
two  doors  opening  from  Fifth  Street.  Attendants  at  the  service 
had  on  entering  the  church,  to  face  the  audience  already  in  their 
pews.  There  was  an  end  gallery  for  the  organ,  choir  and  other 
attendants.  Rev.  Richard  Walker  was  the  faithful  pastor.  A 
number  of  the  members  of  the  Reformed  and  lyUtheran  congre- 
gations attended  the  service  in  this  church  before  provision  was 
made  in  their  own  churches  for  service  in  English. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  Church  on  Linden  above  Fifth 
Street  was  a  plain  brick  structure.  There  were  no  galleries  in 
it.  The  attendance  at  the  evening  service  was  usually  increased 
by  the  presence  of  many  young  people.  Rev.  Mr.  Hare  officiated 
for  some  time.  Rev.  Mr.  Brisbain  was  the  stat^ioned  mihister  in 
1 85 1  and  52,  and  a  popular  speaker 

Of  the  attendance  at  the  Evangelical  (Albright)  meeting 
house  on  the  corner  of  Ninth  and  Linden,  I  have  no  distinct  recol- 
lection now  of  the  services  of  its  ministers.  The  services  were 
usually  conducted  in  German.  Besides  the  pastors  who  had 
charge  of  congregations  in  Allentown,  Rev.  Benjamin  German 
and  later  his  brother,  Rev.  William  German,  as  also  Rev.  Daniel 
Zellers  resided  at  Allentown. 

The  general  attendance  at  the  churches  was  good.  Many 
more  persons  might  have  attended  regularly.  On  the  part  of  a 
fair  number  there  was  a  true  interest  in  the  religion  of  our  blessed 
Master.  Some  had  to  suffer  for  being  faithful  in  the  Master's 
cause.  Some  were  cold  and  indifferent.  Some  claimed  to  be 
members  of  church,  who  never  entered  a  church  for  years.  It  is 
said  that  when  an  election  of  importance  had  been  announced  in 
one  of  the  churches,  although  later  than  1853,  several  persons 
came  to  town  on  election  day,  stopped  at  a  hotel,  told  the  land- 


173 

lord  or  at  least  some  one  af  the  hotel,  that  they  had  come  to  town 
to  vote  at  a  church  election,  but  that  they  did  not  know  the  way 
to  the  church  and  asked  to  be  directed  to  the  same !  Think  of  it ! 
Church  members  did  not  know  the  road  to  the  church  on  earth ; 
what  could  have  been  their  knowledge  of  the  way  to  the  church 
in  Heaven? 

The  pupils  of  Allentown  Seminary  attended  Bible  Class  on 
Sunday  morning  at  the  Seminary  and  then  the  morning  service 
in  one  of  the  churches  in  a  body.  It  was  a  fine  sight  on  a  fine 
Sunday  morning,  to  notice  teachers  and  pupils  marching  to  the 
church.  In  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  Churches,  the  students 
were  seated  in  one  of  the  galleries  and  it  was  considered  no  dis- 
grace to  be  seated  in  the  galleries. 

Sunday  Schools  were  well  attended.  The  Lutheran  and 
Reformed  congregations  had  a  union  Sunday  School  in  the  base- 
ment room  of  the  Reformed  Church.  I  remember  as  attendants, 
as  officers  and  teachers.  Rev.  Fritzinger,  Messrs.  Michael  Eber- 
hard,  Joseph  Young,  Joseph  Weiss  of  the  Reformed  Church, 
Rev.  Mr.  Brobst,  Rev.  Mr.  Schmucker,  Messrs.  Henry  Weins- 
heimer,  Christian  Pretz,  John  J.  Jarrett  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 
I  remember  also  many  lady  teachers.  The  supply  of  text-books,/ 
aids  in  instruction,  hymn  books,  Sunday  School  papers  and 
library  books  was  meager,  compared  with  all  the  appliances  that 
are  now  furnished  to  Sunday  Schools.  But  that  the  teachers 
made  the  very  best  use  of  the  means  at  hand,  I  feel  fully  satisfied. 
Mr.  Henry  Weinsheimer  was  my  teacher  from  1848  to  185 1.  I 
became  a  teacher  after  my  confirmation  in  the.  Fall  of  1851 
and  continued  in  the  school  until  the  Fall  of  1853.  Some  of 
the  teachers  served  as  sexton,  free  of  charge.  I  had  the  honor  of 
the  office  for  one  term.  I  wonder  how  some  of  the  modern  Sun- 
day School  teachers  would  like  to  kindle  and  attend  to  the  fire, 
open  the  shutters  and  ring  the  bell.  Such  work  would  be  death 
to  kid  gloves. 

The  Sunday  Schools  of  the  Presbyterian,  Methodist,  Epis- 
copal and  Evangelical  congregations  were  held  in  their  respective 
church  buildings.  As  I  attended  none  of  their  schools  as  a  scholar, 
and  only  occasionally  visited  the  Presbyterian,  I  can  not  speak  of 
them  as  I  could  if  I  had  attended  regularly.  I  know,  however, 
that  there  were  men  and  women  in  these  schools,  whose  desire 
was  to  be  of  benefit  to  souls  by  the  work  in  which  they  engaged. 

The  great  Sunday  School  friend  in  those  days  was  Rev.  S.  K. 
Brobst,  of  sainted  memory.  His  first  paper  still  bears  the  name 
Jugend  Freund.  But  the  dear  brother  himself  was  the  true 
friend  of  the  young.  He  often  offended  by  his  denunciation  of 
sin,  by  his  warning  against  the  very  appearance  of  evil.  He  was 
in  many  things  in  advance  of  others  in  the  line  of  Sunday  School 
work,  but  it  was  interesting  to  see  how  he  was  gradually  willingly 
followed  by  many. 


174 

Sunday  schools  in  those  days  had  their  annual  picnics,  which 
were,  but  they  often  would  better  not  have  been  in  the  name  of 
the  church  of  Christ.  At  that  time  there  was  no  general  obser- 
vance of  Christmas  and  the  other  festivals  of  the  church  year, 
by  a  special  service  by  the  Sunday  School.  Then  we  heard  only 
of  Sunday  School  exhibitions,  that  often  lacked  the  christian 
character  they  should  have  had. 

In  the  Spring  of  1851,  The  German  Ev.  Lutheran  Minis- 
terium  of  Pennsylvania  and  adjacent  states,  held  its  annual  meeting 
in  St.  Paul's  Church.  Rev.  J.  W.  Richards,  D.  D.,  the  father  of 
the  late  Prof.  Dr.  Richards  was  the  President  of  the  Synod.  I 
remember  seeing  Rev.  Dr.  Demmer,  Rev.  Gottlieb  Yeager,  Rev. 
Mr.  Peixotto,  Rev.  Jeremiah  Schindel,  Rev.  A.  Fuchs,  Rev.  Mr. 
Wenzel  and  many  whose  names  I  can  not  now  recall.  I  was  often, 
during  that  annual  session,  in  the  north  high  gallery  of  the  church, 
watching  the  proceedings  of  Synod.  One  of  the  most  interesting 
events  of  these  meetings,  was  the  sermon  on  the  2  Cor.  5:  17; 
"Therefore  if  any  man  be  in  Christ,  he  is  a  new  creature:  Old 
things  are  passed  away:  behold  all  things  are  become  new,"  by 
Rev.  H.  W.  Hutter,  D.  D.,  who  had  formerly  resided  at  Allentown, 
at  which  time  none  of  his  jovial  companions  thought  that  Edwin 
Hutter,  the  printer,  would  ever  become  a  minister  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ.  There  was  an  intense  interest  to  hear  the  sermon 
of  the  man,  who  had  not  been  afraid  to  consecrate  himself  to  the 
service  of  the  Master.  Old  St.  Paul's  Church  was  packed  with 
people  at  that  evening  service,  and  I  well  remember  a  well-known 
publisher  of  a  count}^  paper,  rising  from  his  seat  in  the  gallery 
near  the  west  wall  and  leaning  forward  to  hear  every  word  that 
was  said  by  the  fellow  printer.  I  had  no  thought  at  that  time 
that  seven  years  later  I  would  be  ordained  at  a  meeting  of  the  same 
Synod  and  continue  a  member  of  the  same  nearly  fifty  years. 
I  remember  seeing  Rev.  Dr.  Demmer  and  Dr.  Mann  walking  with 
Rev.  Mr.  Kessler  in  the  campus  of  Allentown  Seminary,  but  there 
was  no  thought  in  the  mind  at  that  time  that  in  later  years,  the 
Ministerium  of  Penna.  would  enter  the  same  western  gate  in 
visiting  Muhlenberg  College,  as  the  institution  in  which  many 
young  men  prepared  ultimately  to  enter  the  ministry. 

At  that  meeting  of  the  Ministerium  of  Penna.,  forty-five 
ordained  ministers,  and  six  candidates — licentiates — were  present. 
Twenty-one  ministers  were  absent  with  excuse.  The  Synod  then 
numbered  80  ministers.  Of  these  80  ministers,  77  are  either  dead 
or  no  longer  members  of  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania.  Only  3 
ministers  are  members  of  the  Synod  who  were  members  then. 
And  yet  to-day  the  Synod  does  not  only  number  80,  but  378 
ordained  ministers.  Young  men,  think  of  the  changes  that  are 
awaiting  these  378  ordained  ministers.  How  many  of  them  will 
no  longer  be  members  of  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania  a  half  of  a 
century  hence.     Besides  the  new  to  supply  the  places  of  these, 


175 

if  the  wants  of  the  church  continue  to  increase,  how  many  more 
young  men  will  be  wanted  in  the  ranks  of  the  ministry  ?-Who  will 
answer  the  Lord's  call?     "Here  am  I,  send  me." 

Business.  As  schoolboys  were  expected  to  be  regularly  at 
school,  it  can  not  be  expected  of  them,  now,  as  men  to  remember 
much  of  the  business  pursuits  in  their  youth.  Most  of  business 
in  stores  was  transacted  during  the  day.  Stores  and  shops  it  is 
true  were  kept  open  in  the  evening.  But  the  inferior  light  could 
not  be  trusted  to  give  the  customer  sufficient  aid  in  examining  the 
ware  he  was  purchasing.  Stores  kept  a  general  assortment  of 
articles  needed  by  customers.  Dry  goods,  queensware,  groceries, 
hardware  and  other  goods  were  purchased  in  the  same  store. 
Gradually,  however,  there  was  no  separation  of  the  different 
branches  of  trade,  so  that  arithmetics  and  allspice,  broad  cloth 
and  brooms,  candies  and  codfish,  clocks  and  coal,  hats  and  hams, 
mirrors  and  molasses,  muslin  and  mackerel,  silk  and  sugar,  tubs 
and  turpentine,  valentines  and  vinegar,  wash  machines  and 
whiskey  could  no  longer  be  ordered  at  the  same  place. 

There  were  merchants  in  those  days,  whose  word  could  be 
trusted  and  many  people  bought  with  implicit  confidence  in  the 
judgment  and  honesty  of  the  salesman  with  reference  to  an 
article  offered  for  sale.  That  some  tried  to  attract  the  customers 
of  others,  was  evident  from  the  announcement  made  by  a  young 
merchant,  "that  his  firm  would  sell  goods  one  hundred  per  cent, 
cheaper  than  any  of  the  neighbors."  The  question  submitted 
to  us  as  schoolboys,  was,  "how  much  did  the  firm  get  for  its 
goods?" 

Merchants  were  dependant  principally  on  the  canal  for  the 
reception  of  goods  from  the  cities.  Thus  it  was  wise  to  lay  in  a 
large  stock  of  goods  in  the  fall  of  the  year.  Goods  that  had  to 
be  ordered  during  the  winter,  if  not  in  very  large  parcels,  could 
be  shipped  and  received  by  stage.  If  large  boxes  or  barrels  had 
to  be  used,  they  had- to  be  entrusted  to  men  who  had  charge  of 
freight  wagons.  How  important  these  freight  lines  were,  was 
evident  from  what  occured  one  winter  day,  in  one  of  the  places 
of  business.  A  customer  called  and  asked  for  lemons  and  was 
told  that  there  were  none  on  hand.  The  answer  was  heard  by  the 
proprietor  of  the  establishment,  who  also  had  a  number  of  freight 
wagons,  carrying  goods  from  Philadelphia.  When  he  had  heard 
that  there  were  no  lemons  on  hand,  he  is  reported  to  have  said, 
"Was,  drei  und  zwanzig  geul  und  sechs  waegge  uf  der  stross  und 
doch  kenn  lemons?  Nelson!  nemm  die  fedder  un  babier  und 
schreib  grad!" 

People  were  very  dependant  in  those  days  on  merchants 
and  shopkeepers.  They  could  not  go  to  Philadelphia  in  the  morning 
and  return  in  the  evening,  after  having  done  enough  shopping  for 
an  entire  season.  In  those  days,  city  merchants  did  not  sell  to 
private  individuals  by  samples  as  now,  and  send  the  goods  C.  O.  D. 


176 

That  some  merchants  of  Lehigh  County  made  money  is  true.  A 
Lehigh  County  merchant  visited  Philadelphia  at  one  time  and 
when  asked  what  per  cent,  profit  he  charged  on  goods  purchased 
in  the  city,  he  answered,  "Oh,  I  charge  aboutone  ber  cent,  profit." 
The  answer  rather  chilled  the  ardor  of  the  city  wholesale  mer- 
chant to  sell  goods  to  his  "one  per  cent,  profit"  customer.  He, 
however,  sold  goods  to  him  and  they  were  promptly  paid.  On  a 
later  occasion  the  country  merchant  again  visited  Philadelphia 
and  then  the  city  wholesale  merchant  considered  it  wise  to  learn 
a  little  more  about  the  wisdom  of  selling  goods  at  one  per  cent, 
profit,  so  he  said  to  his  country  customer;  "You  told  me,  when 
you  were  here  before,  that  you  sold  your  goods  at  one  per  cent, 
profit.  How  can  you  live  on  such  a  profit?"  "Oh!  I  can  live," 
was  the  reply.  "Will  you  let  me  ask  you,  what  do  you  charge 
for  goods  when  you  sell  them  at. one  percent,  profit?"  "Why  de 
de  way  I  do  is  dis.  When  I  bay  dwendy  five  cends  for  someding, 
I  charge  one  ber  cend.  dad  is  I  sell  id  ad  fifty  cents  and  when  I 
bay  one  dollar  I  charge  one  ber  cend.  profit,  dad  is  I  charge  two 
dollars."  Who  that  merchant  was  I  can  not  say.  Neither  did 
the  deponent  say  that  the  merchant  resided  in  Allentown. 

I  have  the  clearest  recollection  of  two  one  hundred  per  cent, 
transactions  at  Allentown.  The  one  was  preceding  the  funeral  ser- 
vice in  honor  of  the  memory  of  one  of  the  Presidents  of  the  United 
States,  when  Mr.  Reuben  Bright,  a  printer,  furnished  badges  of 
silk  ribbon  with  "In  Memory  of,  &c.,"  printed  on  the  same,  at  5cts. 
apiece.  A  good  100  per  cent,  speculation  for  the  boys.  The  other 
was  when  on  a  very  cold  January  morning,  a  boy  went  to  Thomas 
B.  Wilson's  store  and  while  waiting  for  a  clerk,  who  had  gone  to 
the  cellar,  stood  in  front  of  a  large  stove.  He  watched  the  fire 
and  was  throwing  in  particles  of  paper,  when  by  mistake  he  threw 
a  $5  bill  of  the  Kaston  Bank.  That  was  a  bad  100  per  cent, 
visitation  at  the  store  for  the  boy,  who  was  told  that  his  act  was 
all  gain  for  the  Bank,  who  would  no  doubt  pass  a  vote  of  thanks 
if  it  heard  of  the  boy's  act ! 

In  connection  with  the  business  of  those  early  days, 
stages  were  of  great  importance  to  both  merchants  to  and  from 
the  cities.  The  occupants  of  stages  were,  however,  not  only  mer- 
chants. As  the  freighting  .  of  merchandise  was  an  important 
work,  so  the  running  of  stages  was  for  the  accommodation  of  all 
who  had  occasion  to  travel.  Those  who  had  occasion  to  travel, 
remember  well  the  early  rising,  the  hurried  breakfast,  the  loud 
call  of  the  impatient  driver,  the  entrance  of  the  coach  long  before 
the  sun  had  risen,  the  singular  associations  found  in  stages,  the 
tedious  ride  over  rough  and  muddy  roads  in  winter  and  dusty 
roads  in  summer,  the  halt  at  some  hotel  for  dinner,  the  bill  of 
fare,  the  provision  for  four,  when  it  should  have  been  for  fourteen 
persons  and  the  afternoon  nap  under  adverse  circumstances. 
The  arrival  at  the  end  of  the  journey  was  never  regretted  by  the 


177 

wearied  traveler.  Sometimes  passengers  experienced  the  upset- 
ting of  a  coach.  I  remember  hearing  of  one  in  which  the  passen- 
gers got  out  of  the  coach  as  best  they  could.  An  excited  female 
passenger  left  in  the  coach,  cried  very  vigorously,  "Let  me  out, 
I  am  dead."  The  early  start  long  before  sunrise  prevented  a  good 
view  of  the  new  passenger  entering  a  coach.  Two  college  students 
will  never  forget  when  on  a  certain  occasion  a  third  yielded  a  seat 
in  the  rear  part  of  a  stage  coach  to  allow  a  lady  a  good  seat.  The 
two,  who  flanked  the  lady,  were  excessively  attentive  and  called 
all  their  college  polish  into  service,  to  entertain  the  lady  passenger, 
who,  however,  did  not  venture  to  say  more  than  yes,  sir  or  no,  sir. 
When  the  day  dawned  and  there  was  light  sufficient  to  behold 
the  face  of  the  lady  passenger,  the  attentive  students  discovered 
that  her  face  was  not  white !  Sometimes  the  experience  at  places 
where  the  stages  tarried  to  allow  the  mail  to  be  exchanged  were 
quite  ludicrous.  Two  students,  who  wore  each  a  Maltese  Cross, 
the  badge  of  a  College  Literary  Society,  received  the  closest  atten- 
tion and  a  discussion  arose  whether  the  students  were  Policemen 
or  Knownothings. 

Society.  According  to  the  views  of  some  people,  the  lad  from 
12  to  17  years  old  is  not  expected  to  know,  much  of  society. 
According  to  a  lecture  of  Rev.  Dr.  Vincent,  a  lad  of  those  years, 
is  that  boy,  "not  wanted  in  the  parlor,  on  account  of  his  unpolished 
boots,  his  torn  garments,  his  soiled  hands  and  his  uncombed  hair, 
his  careless  manners.  And  yet  boys  are  fond  of  company  at  that 
age,  they  have  their  eyes  and  their  ears  open.  No  wonder  that  the 
best  excuse  is  sometimes  framed  by  parents  as  well  as  other 
members  of  the  family  circle  and  even  visitors,  to  send  the  boys 
on  some  errand  to  keep  them  away  from  the  company  of  older 
people  who  do  not  wish  to  be  reported. 

In  the  days  of  which  I  speak  to-day,  there  was  in  summer  con- 
siderable front  door,  porch,  step  and  pavement  society.  Who 
does  not  remember  the  gatherings  of  the  female  portion  of  society 
at  the  doors,  on  the  porches  and  steps  of  homes.  They  were  often 
joined  by  their  gentlemen  friends.  Men  also  gathered  evening 
after  evening,  during  the  week,  at  their  respective  places  of  asso- 
ciation with  others.  Who  does  not  remember  the  aged,  the 
middle  aged  and  even  the  young  at  Wilson's  Corner,  at  Joseph 
Weiss',  at  Dr.  C.  H.  Martin's,  at  Mr.  Amos  Ettinger's,  at  Mr.  Peter 
Biery's  on  West  Hamilton  Street,  or  the  Allen  House  and  the 
American  House  porches,  at  Pretz's  Corner,  in  front  of  law  offices, 
under  the  lindens  in  front  of  the  Court  House,  on  East  Hamilton, 
at  Dillinger  &  Craigs  on  North  Seventh  Street,  at  Kramer's,  Reese's 
and  other  points  on  South  Seventh  Street,  at  Major  Fry's  on 
Walnut  Street  and  at  many  other  places  in  the  town. 

In  winter,  families  visited  each  other  considerably.  Men 
had  their  respective  places  of  meeting  for  a  daily  chat,  but  there 
was  also  considerable  home  life. 


178 

The  young  people  had  their  pleasant  time  in  summer  as  also 
in  winter.  In  summer  there  was  much  walking  to  places  of  inter- 
est near  the  town,  often,  however,  the  walk  was  of  greater 
interest  than  the  place  visited !  In  winter,  circles  met  week  after 
week  at  different  residences,  whilst  some  people  would  now  and 
then  have  a  ball,  and  some  were  given  to  card  playing  and  dancing. 
Dancing  and  card  playing  in  private  houses  and  damaging  sur- 
prize parties  were  not  in  vogue. 

Young  people  walked  much  in  those  days  for  very  good 
reasons,  very  few  parents  kept  carriages  and  horses,  and  money 
was  not  furnished  so  readily  to  hire  at  the  livery.  Who  has  for- 
gotten the  walk  to  Worman's  Spring,  to  Helfrich's  Spring,  the 
strolls  along  the  Jordan,  to  Hanover,  to  the  Island,  to  Turnhole 
Mountain,  to  Salsburg  and  even  to  Bauer's  Rock. 

The  boys,  without  the  girls,  had  many  pleasant  Saturdays, 
in  summer  and  fall,  in  fishing  and  hunting  and  in  winter  in 
coasting  and  skating  as  far  as  Bethlehem.  A  few  sleigh  rides 
in  winter  and  a  few  carriage  rides  in  summer  were  considered 
sufficient  to  remember  the  respective  seasons.  A  few  picnics  in 
summer  and  a  few  parties  in  winter  made  occasional  changes 
in  the  life  of  schoolboys  and  girls. 

A  May  Party  held  at  "Prospect  Rock",  on  Tuesday,  May 
3rd,  1853,  and  attended  by  the  following:  Ladies,  Margaret 
Dillinger,  Louisa  Moser,  Hannah  Schmidt,  Anna  Keck,  Belinda 
Horn,  Anna  Weiss,  Eliza  Sweitzer,  Mary  Kuhns,  Klmira  Lewis, 
Emma  Wilson,  Caroline  Wright.  Gentlemen,  Philip  S.  Pretz, 
Thomas  Keck,  Alfred  Saeger,  Edward  Leh,  Gilbert  Gibbons, 
Edward  Young,  Jacob  Shimer  and  Franklin  J.  F.  Schantz. 

Now  and  then  society  had  its  sensations,  but  we  seldom 
heard  of  pistols  and  powder,  of  ropes  and  deep  water!  But  as 
said  before,  boys  were  not  expected  to  be  in  society  and  thus  I 
am  not  expected  to  remember  much  of  society  of  about  sixty 
years  ago. 

Civil  Government.  The  town  had  its  Burgess  and  Councilmen, 
its  School  Directors,  its  Justices  of  the  Peace,  and  its  Constables. 
Whilst  I  have  forgotten  who  were  burgess  and  councilmen,  and 
recollect  the  names  of  only  a  few  school  directors,  I  remember 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  Hon.  John  F.  Ruhe  and  Eli  J.  Saeger,  Esq. 
But  of  all  I  remember  the  High  Constable  Jacob  Ehrig.  He  wore 
no  blue  coat  and  cap,  he  never  told  us  whether  he  carried  a  pistol; 
but  the  boys  of  that  day  well  remember  the  immense  cane,  with 
heavy  crook,  which  the  constable  carried.  He  was  respected  by 
the  citizens,  and  boys,  who  behaved,  had  no  occasion  to  run  when 
he  was  on  the  march  through  town;  they  could  stop  and  inspect 
the  officer's  make  up.  As  Allentown  was  the  county  seat  of 
Lehigh  County,  the  Court  of  Justice  was  naturally  of  interest  to 
the  young  as  well  as  the  old.  Memory  now  recalls  the  face  of  the 
President  Judge,  Hon.  J.  Pringle  Jones  and  that  of  his  successor 


179 

Hon.  Washington  McCartney.  At  one  time  the  Associate 
Judges  were  Hon.  Peter  Haas  and  Hon.  Jacob  Dillinger  and 
later  Hon.  Jacob  Dillinger  and  Hon.  John  F.  Ruhe.  I  have 
already  mentioned  the  names  of  the  lawyers  residing  at  Allentowri 
and  besides  these,  I  recall  the  names  of  Hon.  James  M.  Porter, 
Alexander  Brown  and  Andrew  H.  Reeder,  of  Easton,  and  Charles 
Davis,  Esq.,  of  Reading,  who  attended  and  practiced  in  the  Court 
of  Lehigh  County. 

The  boys  of  those  days  often  attended  court  and  they  were 
greatly  interested  in  the  grand  judges,  the  learned  lawyers,  the 
singularly  constituted  juries,  the  competent  translator,  the 
dignified  tipstaves,  the  obliging  crier,  the  poor  defendant,  the 
hopeful  plaintiff,  the  trying  examinations  of  witnesses,  the  able 
and  eloquent  speeches  of  the  attornies,  occasionally,  however, 
a  wonderful  conglomeration  of  points  of  law,  statements  of 
facts,  quotations  from  poets,  recitations  of  scripture  passages, 
shedding  of  tears,  pounding  of  tables,  perpendicular  and  hori- 
zontal elongation  of  facial  lines,  the  stamping  of  the  floor  and 
what  not  to  win  the  case.  The  charge  of  the  Judge  would 
be  respectfully  listened  to  and  the  verdict  of  the  jury  awaited 
with  anxiety.  That  the  Lehigh  County  Bar  was  one  of  ability, 
was  most  evident,  when  on  a  certain  occasion,  a  lawyer  from  New 
York  had  come  to  AUentown  in  the  interest  of  a  civil  suit  of  great 
importance,  with  reference  to  the  zinc  mines  at  Friedensville. 
He  was  in  town  nearly  a  week  before  the  beginning  of  the  session 
of  the  Court.  I  can  well  remember  his  stately  form,  his  faultless, 
fashionable  dress,  his  haughty  mien,  his  apparent  contempt  for 
the  citizens  of  town  and  the  Court  that  could  possibly  be  held  in 
such  a  place.  But  after  the  session  of  Court  had  been  opened,  and 
his  entrance  had  failed  to  drive  thence  the  legal  gentleman  present 
and  he  heard  how  able  the  legal  gentlemen  were  in  the  arguments 
in  which  they  were  engaged  and  what  superior  legal  knowledge 
the  honorable  judge  displayed,  the  great  New  York  lawyer 
reminded  men  of  the  schoolboy's  inflated  toy  balloon,  after  it 
has  been  subjected  to  a  slight  operation,  which  can  be  performed 
by  a  pin. 

Politics,  state  and  national,  interested  the  boys  of  those  days 
and  why  should  they  not  have  done  so?  Why  should  American 
youth  be  denied  the  pleasure  of  attending  political  meetings? 
The  boys  read  the  papers  with  much  interest  and  they  would 
attend  the  district  and  county  meetings  if  possible.  If  any  can- 
didate for  Governor  would  come  to  town,  the  boys  would  surely 
be  on  hand.  Well  do  I  remember  the  visit  of  Hon.  William  F. 
Johnson,  in  the  summer  of  1848.  The  public  meeting  was  held 
on  the  lawn  of  the  Greenleaf  residence,  very  near  the  place  where 
St.  John's  Ev.  Lutheran  Church  now  stands.  Under  the  maples 
if  not  under  the  linden  trees,  the  vast  assembly  had  gathered 
to  hear  the  distinguished  candidate  for  the  highest  office  of  the 


i8o 

Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania.  He  was  introduced  to  the 
audience  by  James  P.  Reese,  Esq.,  a  young  lawyer  at  Allentown. 
Mr.  Johnson  was  elected  Governor,  but  his  election  by  a  small 
majority,  was  in  doubt  for  a  long  time  and  hence  the  people  of 
Allentown  were  variously  affected  by  the  receipt  of  the  news  on 
successive  days.  Then  the  town  was  without  railroad  and  tele- 
graph. It  had  to  depend  on  the  Philadelphia  daily  stage  for 
latest  news.  Some  of  the  people  would  gather  on  the  southern 
slope  of  the  hill  and  watch  for  the  approach  of  the  stage,  which 
could  be  seen  on  the  Philadelphia  road  in  Salsburg.  If  the  horses 
were  without  flags,  then  the  news  was  favorable  to  Mr.  Johnson 
and  was  quickly  carried  to  the  central  part  of  the  town,  with 
hurrahs  for  Johnson;  but  if  the  horses  had  flags,  then  the  friends 
of  Mr.  Johnson  would  not  run  nor  hurrah,  for  the  sign  indicated 
that  Mr.  Longstreth  was  in  advance  of  Mr.  Johnson.  The  stage 
proprietor  was  of  the  party  who  had  nominated  Mr.  Longstreth, 
the  rival  of  Mr.  Johnson. 

In  1 85 1,  when  Hon.  William  Bigler  was  candidate  for  Gover- 
nor, there  was  an  immense  outpouring  of  the  people.  Many  of 
his  friends  had  gone  from  Allentown  as  far  as  Ruch's  Hotel  in 
North  Whitehall  Township,  to  meet  him  on  his  journey  from 
Mauch  Chunk  to  Allentown.  There  was  a  large  escort  and  the 
procession  moved  by  the  way  of  Catasauqua,  where  it  halted  at 
Solomon  Biery's  Hotel  near  the  lower  bridge.  When  it  reached 
Allentown  the  streets  were  lined  with  people.  I  rode  that  day 
with  an  aged  friend  who  departed  this  life  long  ago,  Mr.  John 
G.  Goundie  and  my  dear  brother.  Dr.  Tilghman  P.  Schantz,  who 
departed  this  life  in  1852.  The  public  meeting  was  held  on  Centre 
Square.  Mr.  Bigler  delivered  an  address  in  English  and  Mr. 
Grund  of  Philadelphia,  spoke  in  German.  If  I  remember  cor- 
rectly, Mr.  Bigler's  remarks  on  the  tariff  question  were  not  accept- 
able to  all.  Even  a  Vice-President  left  the  platform.  Mr.  Grund 
tried  hard  in  the  evening,  at  the  Court  House,  to  bigel  out  the 
wrinkles  which  the  speech  in  the  afternoon  had  occasioned. 

I  shall  never  forget  what  a  profitable  lesson  I  learned  in  the 
Court  House  during  a  Presidential  campaign,  to  show  what  little 
confidence  can  be  placed  in  political  prophets  and  prophecies.  A 
distinguished  gentleman,  the  editor  of  a  leading  city  paper  of 
that  day,  was  advancing  the  claims  of  his  favorite  candidate  and 
closed,  "I  am  as  confident  of  the  election  of  (naming  the  can- 
didate) to  the  office  of  President  of  the  United  States,  as  I  am  of 
the  rising  of  the  sun,  on  the  coming  day."  The  sun  rose  next 
morning  but  the  speaker's  candidate  never  rose  to  the  office  of 
President  of  the  United  States. 

How  wonderful  the  disappointment  of  men!  In  1848,  Hon. 
Lewis  Cass,  one  of  the  distinguished  statesmen  of  our  country, 
was  defeated  by  a  military  chieftain.  Gen.  Zachary  Taylor,  and  in 
1852,  Gen.  Winfield  S.  Scott,  the  greatest    General  the  country 


i8i 

then  had,  was  defeated  by  Hon.  Frank  Pierce,  a  previously, 
comparatively  unknown  gentleman,  who  became  President  of  the 
United  States.  I  wish  the  republican  clubs  and  democratic 
clubs  of  this  day,  with  all  their  fine  hats,  caps,  capes,  torches, 
banners,  fireworks  and  fine  bands,  could  have  seen  the  successful 
party  in  those  early  days  on  the  march  to  congratulate  a  success- 
ful candidate  for  the  office  of  Member  of  the  Legislature.  The 
procession  was  headed  by  a  drum  or  a  fife ;  there  were  no  special 
caps  and  capes  for  the  occasion ;  the  torches  were  balls  of  yarn  on 
the  end  of  rake  handles,  dipped  into  or  saturated  with  camphine; 
for  fireworks,  there  was  no  money  on  hand,  and  yet  those  patriots 
rejoiced  as  heartily  in  the  election  of  their  favorite  candidate  as 
men  do  to-day. 

The  only  candidate  for  the  Presidency  of  the  United  States 
whom  I  ever  saw  at  Allentown  was  the  Hon.  James  Buchanan, 
who  was  introduced  to  citizens  of  Allentown,  in  the  southeast 
room  of  the  Allen  House  by  Hon.  Samuel  A.  Bridges.  He  was 
stopping  for  a  night  at  Allentown  and  was  at  that  time  not  yet 
nominated  for  the  high  office. 

The  greatest  political  quandary  I  ever  got  into,  was  when  Mr. 
Mifflin  Hannum,  asked  me,  a  mere  boy,  what  I  thought  of  the 
"Wilmot  Proviso."  I  answered  that  no  doubt  some  would  be 
pleased  with  it,  or  something  like  it,  and  then  hurried  away,  for 
fear  of  being  asked  more  about  something  that  I  knew  little  of 
then  and  not  too  much  at  present. 

Heroes  of  the  Mexican  War.  An  event  of  great  interest  to 
youthful  minds  in  the  summer  of  1848,  was  the  return  of  soldiers 
who  had  taken  part  in  the  Mexican  War.  The  local  Military 
Companies,  one  of  which  was  commanded  by  Capt.  David  Stem, 
had  proceeded  north  of  the  town,  to  receive  the  veterans.  The 
march  through  the  streets  of  Allentown  was  an  occasion  for 
the  gathering  of  many  people.  At  the  southwest  corner  of  the 
Allen  House,  addresses  to  the  veterans  were  delivered  by  Hon. 
John  D.  Stiles  and  others.  Subsequently  these  returned  soldiers 
were  the  noted  men  in  town ;  Major  Herman  G.  Yeager  (who  came 
later  to  town),  Lieut.  Henry  C.  Longnecker,  James  Mickley, 
Andrew  Yingling,  Peter  Doane,  Henry  Moose,  the  Semmel  brothers, 
Edward  and  Jacob,  and  James  Smith,  and  if  there  were  others 
I  do  not  now  recall  their  names.  Edward  Ruhe  died  in  service, 
Jonathan  Knaus  died  away  from  home.  Who  does  not  remem- 
ber Mexican  John,  an  eccentric  character?  Allentown  had  then 
four  classes  of  soldiers:  (i)  A  few  veterans  of  the  Revolutionary 
War  (one  of  whom  was  Andrew  Gauge  were) .  (2)  Soldiers  of  the 
War  of  1 81 2.  (3)  Heroes  of  the  Mexican  War.  (4)  Members 
of  Military  Companies  of  whom  many  took  part  in  the  War  of  the 
Rebellion,  1861-65,  some  of  whom  were  the  first  to  enter  service 
in  1861. 


l82 

Events  of  Cosmopolitan  Interest.  The  famine  in  Ireland  was 
not  only  an  occasion  for  expressions  of  sympathy,  but  also  for 
the  exercise  of  genuine  charity  in  aiding  those  truly  in  want. 

The  unsuccessful  struggle  for  liberty  on  the  part  of  Lewis 
Kossuth  and  the  people  of  Hungary,  was  the  occasion  for  great 
expressions  of  deep  sympathy  for  an  oppressed  people.  The 
visit  of  Louis  Kossuth  in  this  country,  drew  many  people  from 
inland  towns  to  the  great  cities.  Kossuth  hats  were  soon  in 
fashion.  I  think  I  could  name  the  gentlemen  who  first  wore  one 
with  a  feather,  on  the  streets  of  AUentown.  Lectures  on  Kossuth 
and  Hungary  were  numerous  and  popular.  Contributions  to  give 
substantial  aid  were  also  solicited.  I  was  too  young  to  be  able 
to  comprehend  fully  the  conversation  of  older  persons  on  the 
Revolution  in  Germany.  I,  however,  remember  very  well  with 
what  interest  the  papers  were  read. 

The  great  political  changes  in  France  from  a  Kingdom  to  a 
Republic,  to  the  Presidency  of  which  Louis  Napoleon  was  elevated, 
December,  1848,  naturally  interested  Americans  much.  The 
adoption  of  a  new  constitution,  in  1851,  reestablished  personal 
rule,  and  the  experiment  of  Constitutional  Government  was  at 
an  end.  Louis  Napoleon  could  not  rest  satisfied  with  the  exten- 
sion of  his  term  of  office  as  Chief  Magistrate  to  ten  years.  On 
November  21st,  1852,  the  vote  of  the  French  people  declared 
Louis  Napoleon  Bonaparte,  hereditary  Emperor  of  the  French, 
and  on  December  2nd,  1852,  he  took  the  title  of  "Napoleon  III., 
Emporer  of  the  French."  Schoolboys  naturally  admired  the 
man  who  rose  from  a  prisoner  of  France  in  exile  to  the  position 
of  Emperor  of  the  French.  Our  expression  of  admiration  of  the 
new  Emperor  did,  however,  not  meet  the  approval  of  our  favorite 
teacher,  the  principal  of  the  AUentown  Seminary,  who  was  a 
Swiss  by  birth,  full  of  love  for  civil  liberty,  full  of  hatred  to  polit- 
ical oppressors,  and  I  can  well  remember  when  he  spoke  to  us  boys 
at  school,  and  said,  "You  are  too  young,  and  know  too  little  to  be 
able  to  see  what  this  elevation  of  Louis  Napoleon  may  lead  to." 
Thus  spoke  our  good  teacher,  who  did  not  live  to  see  with  us 
Louis  Napoleon  in  his  glory  and  in  his  terrible  defeat.  But  the 
words  of  our  good  teacher  remain  unforgotten  to  this  day. 

An  event  of  interest  to  the  Nations' of  the  World  in  1853, 
was  the  World's  Fair  at  New  York.  Many  Allentonians  visited 
the  same.  I  could  have  visited  the  same  in  company  with  others, 
but  in  view  of  leaving  for  college  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  no 
time  could  be  spared  for  such  a  visitation  of  New  York. 

Such,  my  hearers,  are  reminiscences  of  life  at  AUentown 
sixty  years  ago.  It  was  a  pleasant  work  to  me  personally  to 
record  what  has  been  read  to-day.  But  alas,  how  sad  the  thought, 
that  in  the  old  homestead  on  Seventh  Street,  none  of  those  remain 
who  once  with  me  called  that  place  home.  The  halls  of  the  old 
Academy  no  longer  respond  to  the  voices  of  teacher  and  scholars 


i83 

as  in  former  days.  Most  of  the  teachers  are  dead  and  many  of  the 
pupils.  Of  those  that  remain,  many  have  grown  gray  and  full 
of  the  responsibilities  and  cares  of  human  life.  The  old  Allentown 
Seminary  Buildings  are  no  longer  recognized.  The  old  Mansion 
has  been  changed,  the  old  stone  building  removed,  and  many  of 
the  old  teachers  are  dead.  Pupils  also  have  been  called  hence. 
Many  fill  responsible  positions  in  life.  None  of  the  old  churches 
are  what  they  were  in  those  days,  they  all  have  been  changed, 
some  have  been  removed  and  others  erected  in  their  places.  None 
of  the  old  pastors  are  living.  The  Court  Room  has  new  judges, 
new  lawyers,  new  jury  men.  None  of  the  old  physicians  remain. 
The  sons  of  the  old  physicians,  together  with  many  others  are 
now  meeting  the  health  wants  of  the  community.  Here  and 
there  you  may  find  some  of  the  old  business  men.  But  let  a  man 
stand  on  Centre  Square  and  name  the  citizens  of  1848  to  1853, 
and  alas,  of  how  many  will  it  be  said,  "they  have  gone  hence." 
In  1848,  the  old  Union  graveyard  and  Allentown  Cemetery  had 
ample  room  for  new  graves.  Behold  how  many  have  been  added 
since  those  days.  The  new  cemeteries,  the  Union  and  the  Fair- 
view  and  others,  number  so  many  graves  that  the  announcement 
of  their  number  would  astonish  many  persons.  Many  of  us  have 
a  special  interest  in  Allentown  and  Union  Cemeteries,  in  view  of 
our  beloved  who  are  buried  there. 

Allentown  has  grown  wonderfully  in  about  sixty  years.  He, 
who  sixty  years  hence,  will  address  an  audience  and  have  the 
same  subject  I  had  to-day,  will  have  far  more  to  speak  of  than 
I  had  this  day.  Many  of  us  will  not  be  present  to  hear  the  address. 
God  grant  that  the  speaker  may  be  able  to  engage  in  the  work  of 
preparation  with  as  much  pleasure  as  I  did  and  if  he  will  be  favored 
with  as  attentive  an  audience  as  I  have  been  to-day,  he  will  be 
fully  repaid  for  his  service  in  affording  pleasure  and  instruction 
to  those  younger  in  years.  I  would  close  my  address  with  best 
wishes  for  the  future  temporal  and  spiritual  welfare  of  my  hearers, 
and  the  ardent  desire  that  all  may  be  or  become  true  citizens  of 
the  Commonwealth  of  Israel  and  entitled  to  residence  in  Jerusalem 
the  Golden. 


Some  Indian  History  of  the  Lehigh  Valley. 

By  John  W.  Jordan,  LL.  D. 


In  preparing  this  paper,  it  has  been  my  endeavor  to  keep  it 
within  reasonable  Hmits,  for  the  subject  is  one  that  marks  an 
important  epoch  in  our  history.  The  stirring  events  which  fell 
between  1744  and  1764,  prepared  the  inhabitants  of  the  Province 
to  meet  those  of  a  later  epoch — in  the  first,  the  encroachments 
of  a  foreign  power  were  beaten  back,  and  they  were  finally  forced 
to  leave  the  continent ;  in  the  next  a  nation  secured  its  independ- 
ence. There  is  no  scarcity  of  original  material  relating  to  the 
first  epoch.  The  Archives  of  the  Commonwealth  are  rich  in 
official  documents  which  relate  to  the  Indian  wars,  but  they  are 
lacking  in  those  details,  which  have  made  the  Archives  of  the 
Moravian  Church  at  Bethlehem,  so  incomparably  valuable  to  all 
historians.  In  many  respects,  the  Manuscript  Collections  of 
the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania  are  the  equal  of  those  of 
the  Commonwealth;  the  Penn  MSS.  with  their  dealings  and 
treaties  between  the  Proprietaries  and  the  Indians;  the  Norris 
Papers,  consisting  of  certificates  of  pay  to  soldiers,  members  of 
the  Assembly,  Provincial  accounts  and  Letter  Books ;  the  Shippen 
Papers,  with  muster  rolls  of  Provincial  troops,  journals  of  officers 
and  orderly  books,  and  correspondence;  the  Northampton  County 
MSS.  among  which  will  be  found  the  muster  rolls  and  correspond- 
ence of  Captains  Wetterholt,  Dodge,  Kern,  Hunsicker,  Craig, 
Arndt,  Jennings,  Inslee  and  others,  the  Conrad  Weisser,  Logan, 
Pemberton  and  Bethlehem  Papers,  aggregating  over  500  volumes. 
Then,  too,  every  local  historical  society  in  the  State,  has  some 
original  documents  bearing  on  the  subject,  and  the  great  libraries 
of  England  and  France  are  liberally  disposed  and  aid  investi- 
gation. 

The  materials  for  a  history  of  the  Indian  wars*  of  Pennsyl- 
vania are  accessible  and  easily  arranged ;  very  little  digging  will  be 
necessary;  the  wealth  of  the  mine  has  been  opened  for  the 
historian. 

The  Delawares,  the  original  owners  of  the  soil  of  Pennsylvania 
were,  according  to  their  own  traditions,  direct  descendants  of  the 
Algonkins,  one  of  the  most  powerful  nations  of  antiquity.  They 
were  divided  into  three  tribes,  and  were  alike  celebrated  for  their 


i85 

courage,  peaceful  disposition  and  powerful  alliances,  and  at  one 
time  were  the  undisputed  masters  of  all  middle  America.  On 
the  arrival  of  Penn,  their  number  in  Pennsylvania  was  computed 
at  30,000.  They  were  a  brave  race,  sound  and  warlike,  who 
gloried  in  the  preservation  of  a  character  for  valor, which  had  come 
down  to  them  from  the  remotest  times.  However,  they  were 
finally  vanquished  by  the  Five  Nations,  and  at  a  treaty  at  Albany, 
in  1 71 7,  were  compelled  to  submit. 

The  valley  of  the  Lehigh,  except  for  the  usual  spring  bushnet 
fishing,  had  no  great  attractions  for  the  scattered  Delawares; 
they  preferred  to  locate  their  little  villages  between  the  northern 
slope  of  the  Blue  Mountains  and  the  north  branch  of  the  Susque- 
hanna, where  game  was  plentiful  and  white  settlement  less  liable. 
It  was,  however,  the  favorite  and  main  route  to  the  settlements 
on  the  Delaware  and  in  New  Jersey,  both  by  water  and  trail. 

It  was  due  to  William  Allen's  speculative  enterprise,  which 
did  so  much  to  open  up  the  valley  for  white  settlement. 

When  the  Moravians  entered  the  valley  to  build  Bethlehem, 
there  were  but  three  plantations  lying  at  intervals  within  a 
stretch  of  4  miles,  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Lehigh.  Two  miles 
above  them,  in  a  bend  of  the  river,  was  the  "Jennings  Farm," 
confirmed  to  Solomon  Jennings,  one  of  the  "Three  Walkers," 
in  the  spring  of  1736,  by  William  Allen.  On  the  demise  of  Jen- 
nings, it  was  bought  by  Jacob  Geisinger,  of  Saucon  township. 
Near  the  mouth  of  Saucon  Creek  was  located  the  "Irish  Farm" 
which  Squire  Nathaniel  Irish  in  1738,  purchased  of  Caspar  Wistar, 
of  Philadelphia.  Opposite  to  Bethlehem,  now  included  in  the 
property  of  the  Iron  Company,  lay  the  "Ysselstein  Farm,"  pur- 
chased by  Isaac  Ysselstein  in  1738;  and  in  less  than  a  year  later, 
his  habitation  was  swept  away  by  a  great  freshet  in  the  river. 
Thirty  years  ago  I  visited  the  Geisinger  place,  where  was  pointed 
out  to  me  part  of  the  foundation  of  the  old  house. 

There  were  two  public  houses  in  the  valley,  that  figure  in  the 
period  we  are  reviewing,  one  kept  by  John  Hays,  where  Weavers- 
ville  now  stands,  and  Nicholas  Opplinger's,  just  above  Lehigh 
Gap. 

Before  taking  up  some  of  the  incidents  connected  with 
the  French  and  Indian  war,  a  few  biographical  notes  of  the 
chiefs  of  the  various  tribes,  who  are  prominent  on  the  records 
of  that  epoch,  will  be  helpful.  Teedyuscung,  undoubtedly 
the  real  hero  of  the  war  of  1755,  was  born  near  where  Trenton, 
N.  J.,  stands,  about  the  year  1700.  In  that  neighborhood  his 
ancestors  had  been  settled  from  time  immemorial.  His  father 
was  old  Captain  Harris  of  Poccopoco,  and  his  brothers  and  half- 
brothers,  were  Captain  John,  who  was  living  on  the  Nazareth 
tract,  when  the  Moravians  came  on  it;  Tom,  Joe  and  Sam  Evans. 
He  was  baptized  by  the  Moravians  at  Gnadenhuetten,  in  March 
of  1750,  and  given  the  name  of  Gideon  and  by  the  settlers  was 


i86 

familiarly  called  "Honest  John,"  but  he  failed  as  so  many  do,  to 
become  a  Christian,  and  also  turned  a  renegade. 

In  the  spring  of  1754,  his  brethren  told  him  that  the  time  had 
come  to  rise  against  their  white  oppressors,  and  asked  him  to 
lead  them  as  their  king.  That  was  the  evil  hour,  in  which  he  was 
dazzled  by  the  prospect  of  a  crown,  and  trafficked  his  peace  of 
mind  for  the  unrest  of  ambition.  He  assembled  his  Delawares 
and  allied  Mohicans  and  Shawnese  at  Nescopeck,  and  marked  out  a 
plan  of  the  campaign  for  the  coming  autumn  and  winter.  Its 
operations  were  restricted  to  the  "Walking  Purchase,"  within 
which,  it  was  resolved  to  chastise  the  English,  by  waging  against 
them  a  war  of  extermination.  It  threatened  to  be  a  repetition 
of  the  war  of  Philip  and  his  Pequods.  The  attempt  failed,  and 
in  the  spring  of  1758,  he  removed  to  Wyoming,  where  agreeably 
to  his  request  and  the  conditions  of  treaty,  a  town  was  built  for 
him  and  his  followers.  Here  he  lived,  and  here  he  was  burned  to 
death  in  his  cabin,  in  the  night  of  April  19,  1763.  The  concurrent 
testimony  of  his  time  agrees  in  representing  him  as  a  man  of 
marked  ability;  a  brave  warrior;  a  sagacious  councillor  and  a 
patriot  among  his  people.  Although  he  was  governed  by  strong 
passions,  and  a  slave  of  that  degrading  vice  which  was  the  bane 
of  his  race,  he  was  not  devoid  of  feeling.  Numerous  are  the 
anecdotes  extant,  illustrating  his  love  of  humor;  his  ready  wit; 
his  quickness  of  apprehension  and  of  reply;  his  keen  penetration, 
and  his  sarcastic  delight  in  exposing  low  cunning  or  artifice. 

His  attachment  to  the  Moravians  he  openly  avowed,  expres- 
sing his  determination  to  keep  by  them  in  preference  to  other 
whites.  Elsewhere,  he  exulted  in  being  called  "a  Moravian," 
although  he  had  broken  his  vows  and  been  unfaithful  to  his 
profession.  Teedyuscung  had  three  sons,  Amos,  Kesmitas,  and 
John  Jacob,  but  they  never  developed  the  ability  of  their  father. 

Tapeuscung,  a  Delaware  chief,  was  Teedyuscung's  favorite 
councillor  and  attended  all  the  treaties  at  Easton  and  elsewhere. 

Joe  Peepy,  came  from  New  Jersey,  and  was  one  of  Brainerd's 
converts.  Prior  to  the  Indian  war,  with  his  wife  and  five  children, 
he  lived  at  the  Craig  settlement,  near  Lehigh  Gap.  He  also  was 
to  be  found  at  Easton  and  Bethlehem  during  treaty  days. 

Moses  Tatemy,  another  one  of  Brainerd's  converts,  was 
living  on  the  Bushkill  Creek.  Stockertown  is  built  on  part  of  his 
plantation,  which  was  deeded  to  him  for  services  to  the  Proprie- 
taries. His  son  "Bill"  Tatemy  was  shot  by  a  Scotch-Irish  lad 
near  Bethlehem,  in  July  of  1757,  died  a  month  later,  and  was 
buried  in  the.  cemetery  near  the  Crown  Inn. 

Nutimus,  was  a  Delaware  chief,  well  known  to  the  settlers  of 
the  Lehigh  and  Wyoming  valleys,  and  a  frequent  visitor  at  Beth- 
lehem. 

Captain  Newcastle,  the  name  given  to  a  well-known  chief  of 
the  six  nations,  by  Governor  Morris,  of  Pennsylvania,  was  friendly 


i87 

to  the  Proprietary  Government,  and  was  instrumental  in  per- 
suading Teedyuscung  to  meet  the  Governor  in  treaty  at  Easton. 

Shikellemy,  an  Oneida  chief,  and  vicegerent  of  the  six  nations, 
lived  at  Shamokin.  He  made  the  acquaintance  of  Zinzendorf ,  when 
he  visited  his  town  in  1742,  and  the  Moravians  carefully  follovvred 
this  up ;  which  ripened  into  a  friendship  which  only  ceased  with 
the  old  chief's  death  in  1748.  He  frequently  visited  Bethlehem 
with  his  sons,  and  through  his  approval,  a  mission  was  organized 
at  Shamokin,  which  was  abandoned  on  the  breaking  out  of 
hostilities. 

Paxanosa,  the  Shawnese  King  of  Wyoming-,  was  a  frequent 
visitor  to  the  Lehigh  Valley,  and  in  1755,  his  wife  was  baptized 
at  Bethlehem.  In  1758,  he  removed  to  Ohio,  and  later  returned 
to  Pennsylvania. 

Madam  Montour,  was  one  of  the  characters  in  the  early  history 
of  the  Province,  and  members  of  her  family  were  to  be  frequently 
met  passing  up  and  down  the  valley,  and  occasionally  visiting 
Bethlehem.  In  early  life  she  named  Roland  Montour,  a  Seneca 
chief,  and  after  his  death,  Robert  Hunter,  an  Oneida  chief.  One 
son,  Andrew,  was  for  years  in  the  employ  of  the  Proprietaries  as 
assistant  interpreter,  as  he  was  conversant  with  the  Mohawk  and 
Delaware  dialects.  He  accompanied  Bishop  Spangenberg  to 
Onondaga  in  1745.  In  1755,  he  was  living  near  Carlisle,  and  was 
the  captain  of  a  company  of  Indians  in  the  service  of  the  Province. 
He  was  subsequently  promoted  to  Major.  Lewis  Montour  was 
a  younger  brother. 

French  Margaret,  a  Canadian,  and  niece  of  Madam  Montour, 
was  living  prior  to  1745,  with  her  Mohawk  husband,  on  the  Alle- 
gheny. In  that  year  she  met  the  Moravian  Missionary  Mack, 
at  the  lodge  of  her  cousin,  near  Shamokin,  and  in  1753,  was  residing 
in  a  village  of  her  own,  at  the  mouth  of  Lycoming  Creek.  Scull's 
map  of  1759,  notes  it  as  "French  Margaret's  Town."  Here  the 
Moravian  missionaries  often  visited.  She  frequently  attended 
treaties,  at  Baston,  Philadelphia  and  Albany,  and  sometimes  she 
interpreted. 

One  of  her  visits  to  Bethlehem  took  place  in  July  of  1755, 
and  with  her  was  her  Mohawk  husband,  Peter,  two  grandchildren, 
and  an  Irish  groom,  to  care  for  the  eleven  horses  of  her  train. 
They  traveled  in  semi-barbaric  state.  During  their  stay,  she 
attended  divine  worship,  expressed  much  gratification  at  the 
music  and  singing,  and  was  also  pleased  to  find  sisters  who  were 
conversant  with  French.  From  Bethlehem  the  party  proceeded 
to  New  York  City,  and  on  their  return  again  were  the  guests  of 
the  Moravians.  In  August  of  1757,  she  attended  the  treaty  at 
Easton,  and  with  Paxinosa,  made  a  short  visit  to  her  friends  in 
Bethlehem.  Over  three  hundred  Indians  were  present.  The 
Province  presented  her  with  20  gallons  of  rum  and  other  articles 
amounting  to  over  £15. 


i88 

The  Moravians  made  their  first  purchase  of  land  in  the  valley 
of  the  Lehigh  in  1741,  and  with  the  growth  of  their  settlement 
the  number  of  Indian  visitors  increased.     A  few  extracts  from 
the  early  chronicles  of  the  town,  will  be  pertinent  to  my  paper. 
1742,  July    10. — Thirteen  Indians  visited  us  to-day. 

July    15. — Several  companies  of  Indians  here  to-day. 

Sept.   14, — Zinzendorf  baptized  the  first  Mohican  convert. 

1744,  Aug.    13. — The    Delaware    King    of    Nescopeck,    with    his 

family,  here  on  a  visit. 

1745,  April  26. — The  first  convert  from  the  Delawares  baptized 

to-day. 
Great    sickness    and  famine    prevailed    among 
the  Delawares,  and  many  left  their  towns  for 
the  white  settlements  to  obtain  food.     The 
Moravians  supplied  their  necessities  as  far  as 
they  were  able.     Many  are  sick  in  Wyoming, 
and  600  Shawnese  have  gone  west  despite  the 
commands  of  the  Iroquois. 
In  July  of  1746,  the  first  Indian  to  live  in  the  tov/n  died.     He 
was  a  Wampanaog,  and  a  convert. 

The  importance  of  communicating  directly  with  the  Indians, 
claimed  the  attention  of  the  Moravians  at  an  early  day,  and  led 
them  to  establish  schools  for  the  acquiring  the  prevalent  languages 
and  dialects  of  that  people.  A  minute  of  a  Church  Council,  held 
July  15,  1742,  recommended  the  study  of  the  Delaware,  in  order 
to  facilitate  intercourse  with  individuals  of  that  nation,  whose 
visits  to  their  settlements  were  then  of  almost  daily  occurrence. 
Twelve  of  their  missionaries  were  more  or  less  conversant  with  the 
Mohawk,  and  in  February  of  1753,  Zeisberger  undertook  the 
translation  of  Moravian  hymns  into  that  tongue.  The  Mohican 
was  diligently  studied  at  Bethlehem,  during  the  sojourn  there 
in  i745-'46,  of  their  Indian  converts  from  New  York  and  Con- 
necticut. The  Rev.  John  C.  Pyreaeus,  at  that  time  commenced 
the  preparation  of  a  Mohican  hymn-book,  to  which  others  con- 
tributed translations.  The  missionaries  Mack,  Bruce  and  Post, 
had  a  practical  knowledge  of  Mohican.  In  1754,  three  young 
men  of  liberal  education,  resided  at  the  Gnadenhuetten  Mission, 
to  study  the  Delaware.  Thus  is  seen  how,  even  in  the  early 
years  of  their  mission,  the  Moravians  could  dispense  with  the 
services  of  an  interpreter,  at  all  times  and  especially  in  matters 
of  religion,  an  unsatisfactory  medium  of  communication. 

The  religious  condition  of  the  Indians,  claimed  the  attention 
of  the  Moravians  immediately  after  their  coming  to  America. 
Their  first  effort  was  made  among  the  Creeks  and  Cherokees  of 
Georgia,  but  had  to  be  abandoned  on  the  breaking  out  of  war 
between  England  and  Spain.  By  1745,  through  the  activity  of 
the  people  at  Bethlehem,  three  flourishing  congregations  among 
the  Mohicans  in  New  York  and  Connecticut  were  established,  but 


i89 

they  too,  had  to  be  abandoned,  and  the  converts  transferred  to 
Bethlehem,  where  temporary  quarters  had  been  erected  for  them. 

The  Mission  Board,  from  past  experiences,  deemed  it  desirable 
that  the  Indian  converts  under  their  care,  should  be  domiciled 
in  a  town  of  their  own,  and  not  contiguous  to  white  settlements. 
A  tract  of  land  was  then  purchased  in  a  sequestered  valley, 
watered  by  the  Mahoning  Creek,  a  Mission  House  and  cabins  for 
the  Indians  erected  and  in  1746,  Gnadenhuetten  was  founded. 
Here  for  nine  years  the  mission  flourished  and  increased  in  num-- 
bers. 

Before  taking  up  the  stirring  events  of  the  Indian  war,  let 
me  give  you  an  account  of  the  visit  of  Gov.  Hamilton,  and  a 
delegation  of  Nanticokes  and  Shawnese  to  Bethlehem,  in  the 
summer  of  1752. 

1752,  July  13. — Early  this  morning  arrived  Gov.  James 
Hamilton  and  his  company  of  six  gentlemen  from  Philadelphia, 
and  continued  on  to  Easton.  One  of  his  party  intimated,  that  if 
we  invited  him  on  his  return,  he  might  stop  here.  Squire  Hors- 
field  and  James  Burnside  rode  after  him  with  an  invitation,  and 
Bishop  Spangenberg,  who  wasin  Nazareth  was  notified.  At  3  P.  M. 
the  Governor  and  company  returned  and  dismounted  at  Squire 
Horsfield's  house,  on  Market  Street.  Here  they  were  waited  on 
by  representatives  of  the  town,  and  visited  the  important  build- 
ings, and  finally  taken  to  the  large  chapel  and  entertained  with 
music  of  the  organ  and  wind  instruments.  Next  they  were  taken 
to  the  small  chapel,  where  refreshments  were  served,  while  music 
was  furnished  by  harps  and  violins.  Just  at  this  time.  Bishop 
Spangenberg  arrived,  and  extended  a  cordial  welcome  to  the 
Governor,  who  expressed  his  delight  at  the  courtesies  shown  him; 
the  beautiful  prospect  from  the  belvidere  of  the  Single  Brethren's 
House  (now  Colonial  Hall  of  the  Young  Ladies'  Seminary),  the 
houses,  farm-buildings,  the  orchards  and  fruitful  fields.  The 
visitors  left  later  in  the  day.  Two  days  after  the  visit  of  the 
Governor,  a  messenger  arrived  from  Gnadenhuetten,  that  a  large 
delegation  of  Nanticokes  and  Shawnese  was  expected  there  and 
then  proceed  to  Bethlehem.  About  noon  on  July  20,  the  fifty 
Nanticokes  and  fifteen  Shawnese  were  met  about  a  mile  from  the 
town  by  Squire  Horsfield,  James  Burnside  and  Rev.  Owen  Rice. 
Bishop  Spangenberg  received  them  at  the  line  fence,  where  one  of 
the  chiefs  chanted  a  song  of  joy.  The  Indians,  who  marched  in 
good  order  through  the  town,  were  then  taken  to  the  barracks 
which  had  been  erected  for  them  (where  the  gas  works  now 
stand),  and  as  they  passed  the  houses  on  Church  Street,  their 
inmates  stood  in  groups  before  them,  and  music  was  played  from 
the  belvidere  of  the  Single  Brethren's  House.  They  were  given 
refreshments  and  rested. 

In  the  evening  many  01  the  visitors  attended  a  meeting,  kept 
in  Enghsh,  by  Rev.  Mr.  Rice. 


I90 

July  21. — After  breakfast  five  chiefs  of  the  Nanticokes  and 
two  of  the  Shawnese,  requested  they  wished  to  wait  on  an  equal 
number  of  Moravians,  as  they  had  "words  to  tell  us."  Accord- 
ingly we  met  in  the  little  chapel,  where  also  assembled  a  few  whites 
and  Indians,  as  witnesses  and  spectators.  Red  Hawk,  White  Elk, 
Sun  Fish  and  the  Crow,  were  the  head  chiefs  of  the  Shawnese. 
Their  speaker  delivered  to  us,  according  to  their  customary  cere- 
monial, and  with  a  solemn  oration  in  Oriental  style,  a  string  of 
•wampum,  which  he  said,  that  by  it  they  wiped  the  eyes  of  the 
Moravians  in  Bethlehem,  that  they  might  see  clearly;  cleaned 
their  ears,  that  they  might  hear  distinctly;  dried  their  sweat,  that 
they  might  be  smart;  smoothed  the  neck,  that  they  might  take 
all  in  well ;  cleaned  their  insides,  that  the  good  stick  fast  and  the 
bad  find  no  hold ;  and  that  the  words  they  had  to  produce,  would 
be  taken  in  good  part,  even  if  they  could  not  express  themselves 
correctly — as  their  design  was  good. 

Their  interpreter  translated  the  speech  with  like  ceremonial, 
while  holding  the  string  of  wampum  in  his  hand  and  fixing  his 
eyes  steadfastly  on  it,  as  if  he  read  the  words  off.  The  string  was 
then  handed  to  Bishop  Spangenberg. 

The  second  string  of  wampum,  which  they  delivered  in  like 
manner,  had  this  signification — "that  now,  as  from  Gnadenhuetten 
to  Wyoming,  so  also  from  Bethlehem  to  Gnadenhuetten,  the  road 
was  open;  they  had  cleared  away  all  stones  from  the  road,  by 
which  a  person  might  stump  himself;  had  dug  out  all  stumps; 
cut  down  all  bushes;  leveled  all  hills;  had  straightened  all  crooks; 
that  now  a  person  could  without  obstacles,  go  from  Bethlehem 
to  Gnadenhuetten  and  thence  to  Wyoming  unhindered;  could 
see  in  a  "straight  line." 

After  making  this  proposition  we  remained  some  time  together 
with  pipes  and  tobacco,  and  general  matters  were  discussed.  The 
seven  chiefs  were  treated  by  our  representatives  to  a  dinner. 
White,  their  interpreter,  was  not  wholly  ignorant  of  Christianity. 
There  were  present  fifty-seven  Nanticokes,  twenty-four  Shawnese, 
and  fifty-five  Mohicans  and  Delawares  of  our  mission  at  Gnaden- 
huetten, as  guests.  The  following  day  the  Indians  passed  in 
fishing  and  hunting,  and  presented  us  with  half  of  a  deer. 

Sunday,  Jtdy  23. — Bishop  Spangenberg  preached  in  English, 
all  the  Indians  being  present.  The  Nanticokes  understand  some 
English.  In  the  afternoon  they  attended  the  baptism  of  an 
Indian,  belonging  to  our  mission  north  of  the  Blue  Mountains. 

The  following  day  the  chiefs  of  both  tribes  assembled  in  the 
little  chapel.  In  the  middle  stood  a  round  table  covered  with 
red  cloth,  around  which  sat  the  Indian  chiefs,  some  of  our  converts 
from  Gnadenhuetten,  and  some  of  our  clergy.  Behind  this 
circle  sat  on  one  side  Indians;  and  on  the  other  side  Moravian 
brethren  and  sisters,  on  benches,  as  many  as  the  chapel  could 
hold. 


191      • 

Bishop  Spangenberg  arose  and  spoke  in  English,  in  answer 
to  the  communication  made  on  Friday;  referring  to  it,  repeating 
it,  and  producing  their  string  of  wampum,  which  Father  Nit- 
schmann  held  on  his  knee.  Next  he  held  up  their  string  of  wam- 
pum and  said:  "We  saw  it  was  not  necessary  to  wipe  out  their 
eyes,  for  they  looked  clear  and  bright;  their  ears  had  been  atten- 
tive; they  had  wiped  off  their  sweat,  had  been  right  smart;  their 
inwards  were  clean,  for  he  saw  they  had  taken  all  our  words  and 
actions  from  a  good  point  of  view.  Therefore,  with  this  string 
of  wampum,  we  had  nothing  further  to  say,  except  that  we 
rejoiced  that  they  had  come  to  visit  us." 

Bishop  Spangenberg  then  handed  the  string  to  the  interpreter, 
who  held  it  aloft,  and  repeated  the  Bishop's  words  in  Indian. 
Every  proposition  was  received  with  words  and  sounds  of  accla- 
mation from  the  visitors.  Bishop  Spangenberg  now  rose  for  the 
second  time,  held  our  second  string  of  wampum  in  his  hand,  and 
pointed  to  their  second  string,  lying  in  Father  Nitschmann's  lap, 
repeated  the  words  which  their  string  had  signified  and  said : 
"We  will  keep  this  road  right  clean,  'so  that  no  grass  grows  on  it; 
as  soon  as  the  grubs  begin  to  grow,  we  will  cut  them  off;  as  soon 
as  ever  a  wicked  man  throws  a  stone  in  the  way,  we  will  remove  it 
from  the  way." 

He  gave  the  string  of  wampum  to  the  interpreter,  who 
repeated  the  Bishop's  words  in  Indian,  each  proposition  being 
received  with  approbation,  and  both  their  and  our  strings  of  wam- 
pum were  handed  first  to  the  chiefs  and  next  to  their  people  for 
examination.  Bishop  Spangenberg  again  spoke  and  told  them  of 
our  covenant  with  the  six  nations ;  shewed  them  the  strings  of  wam- 
pum which  the  chiefs  of  the  six  nations  had  given  to  Zinzendorf 
ten  years  ago  at  Conrad  Wieser's,  and  then  the  belt  of  wampum, 
which  Bishop  Cammerhoflf,  two  years  ago  had  received  at  Onon- 
daga, to  the  effect  that  two  Moravian  brethren  might  go  among 
the  six  nations  and  live  there  to  learn  the  language.  White 
interpreted  into  Indian. 

Following  this,  Bro.  Schlegel  brought  in  a  large  basket  of 
tobacco,  and  Sr.  Schlegel  two  little  baskets  filled  with  ribbons, 
scissors,  pins,  needles,  thread,  etc.,  and  placed  them  before  Bishop 
Spangenberg,  who  said:  "As  our  young  men  and  women  and  the 
children  are  delighted  that  the  Nanticokes  and  Shawnese  have 
come  to  visit  us,  they  have  brought  together  a  few  presents — 
our  men  this  basket  of  tobacco  for  your  men — our  sisters,  two 
little  baskets  of  things  for  your  women  and  our  children  five 
bushels  of  wheat  flour — all  this  they  should  accept  and  divide." 
White  interpreted,  whereupon  there  went  up  a  shout  of  joy. 

An  old  chief  then  arose,  took  both  of  our  strings  of  wampum 
in  his  two  hands,  walked  quietly  within  the  circle  around  the 
table,  and  sang  an  Indian  hymn  of  thanks,  and  as  he  came  to  the 
middle,  before  the  Bishop,  he  stopped,  but  kept  on  singing,  and 


192 

returned  to  his  seat.  Now  the  shouts  and  songs  of  joy  were 
renewed,  the  chiefs  began  one  after  another,  and  their  people 
responded,  and  it  was  evident  they  were  pleased  and  thankful. 
The  Indians  then  returned  to  their  quarters  to  show  their  presents. 

July  25. — Early  this  morning  the  Indians  began  to  leave  in 
straggling  parties,  and  by  10  o'clock  all  had  left  the  town,  as  they 
passed  the  houses,  singing  hymns  of  joy. 

1765,  July  23. — We  had  the  pleasure  to  receive  our  Governor, 
John  Penn.  He  came  at  noon  in  company  with  his  brother  and 
Mr.  Allen,  Jr.  They  were  welcomed  with  instrumental 
music  from  the  roof  of  the  Single  Brethren's  House,  as  they 
passed  up  the  street  to  the  Sun  Inn,  where  they  lodged.  As  it 
rained,  they  did  not  visit  the  objects  of  interest.  The  next  day 
they  returned  to  Philadelphia. 

From  April  27th  to  May  ist,  1768,  the  Governor,  with  his 
wife  and  company,  again  visited  the  town.  They  were  shown 
through  the  principal  buildings,  the  mills  and  trades,  and  attended 
a  children's  meeting,  and  were  charmed  with  what  they  saw.  One 
afternoon  they  were  taken  to  the  banks  of  the  Lehigh  where  they 
were  entertained  with  music.  Part  of  another  day  was  spent  in 
Allentown. 

The  chronicles  of  the  town  also  tell  us  of  a  great  freshet  in 
1766.  "April  15th.  Hard  rain  the  whole  day  until  11  o'clock  at 
night.  High  water  expected  and  began  to  make  preparations 
to  meet  it  in  the  mills  and  other  low  localities  to  prevent  damage. 
The  Lehigh  and  Manocacy  flowed  together  before  midnight.  The 
following  day  at  7  A.  M.  the  Lehigh  rose  125  inches  above  common 
water  mark,  and  therefore,  two  inches  higher  than  the  freshet  of 
1762.  The  houses  on  the  Manocacy  we  could  only  reach  by  boats. 
In  a  few  hours  there  rose  a  strong  N.  W.  wind,  when  the  water 
began  to  fall.  According  to  the  calculations  of  our  old  people, 
it  was  to-day  27  years  ago  (1739),  that  the  Ysselstein  house  was 
carried  away  by  a  freshet.  The  greatest  damage  done  this  time, 
was  to  fences,  bridges  and  gardens.  Eighteen  cords  of  bark 
were  destroyed  at  the  tannery." 

On  July  29  as  Alexander  Tomb,  of  Allen  township,  was 
riding  through  the  woods,  he  spied  two  Indians  concealed  behind 
trees.  Turning  his  horse  about,  they  ran  after  him,  and  seeing 
he  might  escape,  one  fired  his  gun  at  him;  the  ball  struck  the  limh 
of  a  tree  and  fell  in  the  mane  of  his  horse.     He  finally  escaped. 

French  ambition,  French  aggression,  provoked  the  first  war, 
in  which  the  followers  of  William  Penn  engaged  with  the  aborig- 
ines. Whatever  other  considerations  may  have  moved  the 
Indians  to  entertain  unfriendly  feelings  toward  the  descendants 
of  a  man  whose  memory  they  revered;  whether  loss  of  confidence 
in  their  integrity  or  a  sense  01  injury,  or  a  wild  hope  of  regaining 
their  ancestral  seats — it  is  a  question  whether  they  would  have 
followed  up  these  feelings  by  acts  of  open  hostility,  had  they  not 


193 

been  incited  by  the  insidious  representations  of  the  French  of 
Canada.  An  alliance  with  the  Indian  tribes  of  the  Province,  the 
latter  well  knew,  would  enable  them  to  carry  on  their  military 
operations  in  the  Ohio  country  successfully,  and  to  realize  their 
scheme  of  territorial  aggrandizement.  In  this  way,  then,  were 
the  Delaware  Nation  and  lesser  tribes,  residing  on  the  Susque- 
hanna and  to  the  Eastward,  seduced  from  their  allegiance  to  the 
British  Crown,  and  led  to  inflict  much  suffering  upon  the  white 
settlements,  which  stretched  along  the  line  of  the  Blue  Mountains, 
from  the  Delaware  Water  Gap  to  the  valley  of  the  Conococheaque, 
on  the  confines  of  Maryland.  The  Delawares,  too,  may  have 
been  influenced  by  the  hope,  that  after  they  had  won  redress  from 
the  English,  gained  their  confidence  and  their  alliance,  they 
might  regain  their  national  independence,  and  wipe  out  the 
insulting  words  of  Canassatego,  spoken  to  the  Fork  Delawares, 
in  July  of  1742 :  "Let  this  belt  serve  to  chastise  you!  You  ought  to 
be  taken  by  the  hair  of  the  head  and  shaken  severely,  'till  you 
recover  your  senses  and  become  sober.  You  don't  know  what 
ground  you  stand  on,  nor  what  you  are  doing.  This  land  that 
you  claim,  is  gone  through  your  guts  long  ago.  You  know  you 
are  women,  and  can  no  more  sell  land  than  women.  We  charge 
you  to  move  instantly.  We  don't  give  you  the  liberty  to  think 
about  it,  for  you  are  women!"  In  their  hostile  preparations, 
the  summer  and  early  autumn  passed  away,  October  came,  and 
no  sooner  had  the  first  frosts  reddened  the  maples  and  hardened 
the  yellow  corn  in  the  husk,  than  the  Delawares  and  their  allies 
assembled  at  Nescopeck,  painted  black  for  war,  and  in  small 
bands  moved  eastward  with  murderous  intent.  The  district 
which  largely  composed  the  "Walking  Purchase,"  became  the 
scene  of  the  carnival  which  the  savages  held  with  torch  and 
tomohawk,  and  its  defenceless  settlers  taken  by  surprise,  harassed 
by  an  unseen  foe,  shot  down  at  their  plows,  butchered  at  their 
firesides  or  hurried  away  into  captivity,  for  torture  or  for  coveted 
ransom,  were  seized  with  indescribable  fear. 

The  massacre  at  the  Gnadenhuetten  mission,  on  the  evening 
of  the  24th  of  November,  1755,  was  the  first  intimation  to  the 
inhabitants  of  the  Lehigh  Valley,  that  the  savages  were  at  their 
doors.  The  Government  moved  slowly  in  devising  means  for 
their  protection,  and  it  was  the  middle  of  December,  before  Frank- 
lin, who  had  been  persuaded  to  doff  his  philosopher's  gown  for  a 
military  cloak,  took  charge  of  the  frontiers,  and  for  their  protec- 
tion, began  to  build  a  line  of  block-houses  from  the  Delaware  to 
the  Susquehanna,  and  raised  a  battalion  of  troops. 

On  January  7,  1756,  Franklin  arrived  at  Bethlehem  from 
Reading,  and  was  received  by  Bishop  Spangenberg,  who  informed 
him  that  over  four  hundred  fugitives  and  seventy  Indian  converts, 
had  fled  to  their  town  for  protection.  Eighty  of  the  inhabitants 
were  divided  into  a  day  and  night  watch,  and  the  changes  of  the 


194 

watch  and  the  hours,  were  indicated  by  striking  the  bell.  During 
Franklin's  sojourn  of  eight  days,  he  inspected  the  town  and 
the  principal  buildings;  a  dinner  was  given  to  him,  the  musicians 
playing  some  selected  pieces ;  and  he  attended  the  church  services 
on  Sunday.  On  the  nth,  Capt.  Foulk's  company  of  soldiers 
arrived  from  Allemaengel,  and  on  the  15th,  under  escort  of  the 
troops,  he  broke  up  his  headquarters  and  marched  for  Fort  Allen, 
then  in  the  course  of  erection.  Two  days  later  another  company 
of  soldiers  arrived  to  join  Frankiln.  Later  he  passed  through  the 
town  en  route  to  the  capitol,  to  attend  the  Assembly. 

Within  six  weeks  of  the  first  inroad  of  the  savages,  the  valley 
was  almost  deserted  by  the  whites,  and  the  Moravian  villages 
sought  out  by  the  fugitives.  This  condition  of  affairs  reached 
its  climax  in  the  early  winter  of  1757;  nevertheless,  even  pending 
negotiations  for  peace  with  the  Indians,  there  occurred  repetitions 
of  the  horrors  which  had  marked  the  inception  of  hostilities. 

There  were  three  conferences  held  with  them  at  Easton 
alone,  in  the  interval  between  July  of  1756  and  August  of  1757, 
when  finally  at  the  latter,  a  treaty  made  between  Gov.  Denny 
and  the  Deleware  King  Teedyuscung,  a  peace  was  confirmed. 
Up  and  down  the  valley  might  have  been  seen"  bodies  of  Indians 
going  to  or  returning  from  the  conferences  at  Easton,  with  whom 
were  either  Teedyuscung,  Tapeuscung,  Capt.  Newcastle,  Tatemy, 
Joe  Peepy  and  other  chiefs.  Provincial  troops  were  to  be  met 
marching  to  protect  the  exposed  positions,  on  conveying  provisions 
and  ammunition,  under  the  commands  of  Captains  Trump, 
Arndt,  Craig,  Hay,  Wetterhold,  Van  Etten,  Wayne  (the  father 
of  Gen.  Anthony  Wayne  of  the  Revolution)  and  some  few  settlers 
venturing  to  their  old  homes. 

In  the  evening  of  the  7th  of  August,  1757,  Gov.  Denny  arrived 
at  Bethlehem.  Declining  an  invitation  to  lodge  in  the  town,  he 
crossed  the  ferry  and  passed  the  night  at  the  Crown  Inn.  Here  he 
was  serenaded  by  the  musical  elements  of  the  town.  His  next 
visit  was  on  the  17th  of  November,  returning  from  Easton,  when 
he  remained  over  night  in  the  town,  and  was  entertained  with 
supper  and  music.  When  he  departed  for  his  capitol,  the  trom- 
bone band  played. 

On  Sunday,  August  9th,  1760,  Gov.  James  Hamilton,  with 
eight  gentlemen  came  to  Bethlehem  from  Easton,  and  put  up  at 
the  Sun  Inn.  After  attending  church  and  dining,  they  left  for 
the  capitol.  On  June  15th,  1762,  he  again  passed  through  the 
town  to  Easton,  where  he  was  to  hold  a  treaty  with  the  Indians, 
and  several  days  later  was  followed  by  Sir  William  Johnson,  of 
New  York.  In  company  with  Teedyuscung,  on  the  29th,  he 
again  passed  on  to  Philadelphia.  In  the  meantime  General 
Napier,  a  brother  of  Gen.  Amherst  and  other  gentlemen,  with 
letters  of  introduction  from  William  Allen,  were  entertained  by 
Bishop  Spangenberg,  visited  the  houses  and  mills,  and  were 
present  at  a  funeral. 


195 

Full  four  years  of  tranquility  passed  to  the  summer  of  1763, 
when  the  Indians  of  the  western  country  conspired  under  Pontiac, 
the  Ottawa,  in  a  mighty  effort  to  reclaim  their  ancestral  seats 
from  the  English.  This  movement  on  the  part  of  the  western 
tribes,  awakened  memories  of  old  wrongs  in  the  bosoms  of  the 
Indians,  east  of  the  AUeghenies,  and  they  unburied  the  hatchet. 
It  was  feared  that  the  horrors  of  the  autumn  of  1755  would  be 
re-enacted.  Once  more  in  its  history,  the  settlers  of  the  valley 
prepared  for  defence.  Before  daybreak  on  the  morning  of 
October  8th,  some  Delaware  warriors  struck  fatal  blows  at  Sten- 
ton's  in  Allen  township,  killing  eight  persons;  plundered  Andrew 
Hazlett's  farm  house  and  tomahawked  his  wife  and  two  children; 
fired  Philip  Kratzer's  barn;  waded  the  Lehigh,  at  the  so-called 
Indian  Falls,  above  Siegfried's  Bridge,  and  in  Egypt  of  Whitehall, 
murdered  and  burned  at  Mickley's,  Schneider's  and  Marx's. 

At  Stenton's,  Capt.  Jacob  Wetterhold,  with  a  squad  of  men, 
were  lodging  for  the  night.  Meeting  the  wife  of  James  Horner, 
who  was  on  her  way  to  a  neighbor  for  coals  to  light  her  morning's 
fire,  the  Indians,  fearing  she  might  raise  an  alarm,  despatched  her 
with  their  tomahawks.  Thereupon  they  surrounded  Stenton's. 
No  sooner  had  Capt.  Wetterhold 's  servant  stepped  out  of  the 
house,  to  saddle  the  Captain's  horse,  than  he  was  shot  down.  The 
report  brought  his  master  to  the  door,  when  he  received  a  fatal 
wound.  Sergeant  McGuire,  in  his  attempt  to  draw  him  in,  was 
also  dangerously  wounded.  Thereupon  the  Lieutenant  advanced.* 
He  was  confronted  by  an  Indian,  who,  leaping  upon  the  bodies 
of  the  fallen  men,  presented  a  pistol,  which  the  lieutenant  thrust 
aside  as  it  was  being  discharged — thus  escaping  with  his  life,  and 
succeeding  also  in  expelling  the  savage.  The  Indians  now  took  a 
position  at  a  window,  and  there  shotStenton  as  he  was  rising  from 
his  bed.  Rushing  from  the  house,  the  wounded  man  ran  for  a 
mile  and  dropped  down  a  corpse.  His  wife  and  two  children, 
meanwhile,  had  secreted  themselves  in  the  cellar,  where  they 
were  fired  upon  three  times,  but  without  being  struck.  Capt. 
Wetterhold,  despite  his  sufferings,  dragged  himself  to  a  window, 
through  which  he  shot  one  of  the  savages  in  the  act  of  applying 
a  torch  to  the  house.  Taking  up  the  body  of  their  comrade,  the 
Indians  withdrew. 

When  the  news  reached  Bethlehem,  a  relief  party  was  sent 
to  carry  in  the  wounded,  and  Capt.  Wetterhold  was  taken  to 
the  Crown  Inn,  where  he  breathed  his  last  on  the  9th,  and  the  fol- 
lowing day  was  buried  in  the  graveyard  nearby.  The  other  dead, 
and  those  who  died  of  their  wounds,  were  buried  at  the  Burnside 
Plantation  near  Bethlehem.  Dr.  John  M.  Otto  professionally 
attended  to  them.  This  bold  foray  struck  terror,  as  well  it  might, 
into  the  neighborhood,  and  the  Moravians  made  arrangements 
immediately  for  the  care  of  the  refugees  from  Allen  and  Lehigh 
townships.     On  October   i8th,   news   reached   the  town  of  the 


196 

massacre  at  Wyoming,  and  word  was  sent  to  the  Irish  settlement 
to  be  on  their  guard. 

One  month  later,  about  one  o'clock  at  night,  the  Bethlehem 
Oil  Mill,  on  the  Manocacy,  began  to  burn  furiously,  before  it  was 
noticed,  notwithstanding,  the  night  watch  a  short  time  before  had 
passed  by.  This  fact,  added  to  the  fear  of  Indians  being  about, 
who  sought  by  this  means  to  profit  in  their  evil  designs,  increased 
the  excitement.  "A  part  of  our  men,"  continue  the  chronicles 
of  the  town,  "hurried  there  to  put  out  the  flames,  another  party 
patrolled  in  and  about  the  town.  The  mill,  however,  was  so 
totally  wrapped  in  flames,  that  all  quenching  was  in  vain,  and 
attention  was  turned  to  saving  the  adjacent  new  water-works, 
which  at  one  time  was  on  fire.  A  strong  northeast  wind,  kept 
the  fire  from  the  town,  which  otherwise  might  have  suffered  very 
much."* 

Two  days  later  a  fire  engine  was  received  from  England.  It 
was  late  in  December,  before  the  last  of  the  fugitives  left  for  their 
homes. 


*  Two  months  prior  to  the  fire,  Judge  Lewis  Weiss  of  Philadelphia,  wrote  to  the 
pastor  at  Bethlehem:  "  In  case  Bethlehem  should  be  attacked,  I  hope  great  care  will 
be  taken  of  the  mills  and  water  works;  if  the  Indians  should  destroy  them,  you  must 
all  starve  for  want  of  water." 


Revolutionary  Patriots  of  Allentown 
and  Vicinity. 

By  Charles  R.  Roberts, - 


Allentown  and  that  part  of  old  Northampton  county  which 
now  constitutes  Lehigh  county  furnished  a  large  number  of 
soldiers  in  the  Revolutionary  War,  as  well  as  its  quota  of  officers 
and  officials.  Taking  first  those  who  occupied  high  official  posi- 
tions, we  find  that  Allentown  had  two  such,  Peter  Rhoads 
and  David  Deshler. 

Peter  Rhoads. 

Peter  Rhoads  occupied  important  positions  from  the  begin- 
ning of  the  Revolution  until  his  death.  Born  in  Whitehall  town- 
ship in  April,  1737,  two  miles  north  of  the  present  city  of  Allen- 
town, the  son  of  Daniel  Roth,  a  native  of  Switzerland,  he  was 
educated  among  the  Quakers,  by  whom  he  was  persuaded  to 
change  the  spelling  of  his  name  to  Rhoads.  He  received  a  good 
English  education,  and  was  equally  as  well  read  in  German,  besides 
acquiring  a  knowledge  of  French,  Latin,  surveying,  book-keeping 
and  those  duties  pertaining  to  the  scrivener  of  that  day.  He  also 
learned  the  trade  of  a  tailor,  as  it  was  customary  among  the 
Quakers  to  teach  the  young  men  useful  occupations. 

In  1 761  he  returned  to  his  native  township,  Whitehall,  and 
the  following  year,  on  November  23,  1762,  was  married  to  Sabina 
Kohler,  daughter  of  Jacob  Kohler,  of  Egypt.  In  1 763,  he  occupied 
his  new  stone  dwelling  house  in  Allentown,  which  had  just  been 
completed,  and  which  still  stands  on  North  Seventh  Street.  Upon 
the  organization  of  Zion's  Reformed  congregation  in  that  year, 
he  was  chosen  one  of  the  deacons.  Already  in  1 768  he  conducted 
a  general  store,  which  he  maintained  until  his  death.  In  1772, 
he  was  tax  collector  of  Salisbury  township,  and  in  1773  was 
treasurer  of  Zion's  Reformed  congregation. 

The  Provincial  Conference  of  Committees  having  resolved 
that  it  was  necessary  that  a  provincial  convention  be  called  for 
the  express  purpose  of  forming  a  new  government  in  the  province, 
on  the  authority  of  the  people  only,  at  an  election  held  at  Allen- 
town on  July  8th,  1776,  at  which  John  Gerhart,  David  Deshler 


198 

and  George  Breinig  were  the  judges  of  election,  Peter  Rhoads  and 
Peter  Burkhalter  were  elected  members  of  the  convention. 

This  convention,  which  formulated  the  first  constitution  of 
Pennsylvania,  met  at  the  State  House  in  Philadelphia  on  the 
i5th  of  July,  1776,  and  was  in  session  until  September  28th  fol- 
lowing. On  July  23,  1776,  the  convention  elected  the  members 
of  the  Council  of  Safety,  consisting  of  fifteen  members  from 
Philadelphia  county,  and  one  from  each  of  the  other  counties. 
Peter  Rhoads  was  elected  the  member  from  Northampton  county. 
The  Council  of  Safety,  in  session  from  July  24,  1776  to  March  17, 


Home  of  Judge  Rhoads  on  North  Seventh  Street,  AUentown. 


1777,  was  the  most  important  body  in  the  state  at  that  time,  and 
carried  on  the  executive  duties  of  the  government  until  the 
Supreme  Executive  Council,  chosen  under  the  constitution  at 
the  election  in  February,  organized  in  March,  1777. 

On  September  3,  1776,  the  convention  constituted  all  the 
members  of  the  Council  of  Safety  Justices  of  the  Peace  for  the 
State.  This  constitutional  convention  consisted  of  the  repre- 
sentative men  of  the  State — men  selected  for  their  ability,  patriot- 
ism and  personal  popularity.  Benjamin  Franklin  was  elected 
its  president,  and  its  labors  were  completed  on  the  28th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1776,  by  the  adoption  of  the  first  State  Constitution,  which 
went  into  immediate  effect,  without  a  vote  of  the  people. 


199 

On  May  2,  1777,  Peter  Rhoads  was  appointed  by  the  Board 
of  War  one  0/  the  commissioners  from  Northampton  county,  to 
collect  blankets  for  the  continental  troops.  November  24,  1776, 
he  was  appointed  treasurer  for  the  advance  money,  for  North- 
ampton county. 

In  October,  1777,  he  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Assembly, 
which  met  at  Lancaster  on  October  27th,  but  did  not  obtain  a 
quorum  until  November  20,  1777,  and  was  re-elected  in  1778,  1779 
and  1780.  On  April  2,  1781,  he  voted  in  favor  of  the  bill  which 
was  passed  abolishing  slavery  in  Pennsylvania.  He  was  appointed 
Justice  of  the  Peace,  December  4,  1783. 

On  October  8,  1784,  he  was  appointed  and  commissioned  by 
the  Supreme  Executive  Council,  President  Judge  of  the  Court  of 
Common  Pleas  and  of  General  Quarter  Sessions  for  Northampton 
county.  On  October  22nd,  1787,  he  was  chairman  of  the  meeting 
at  Bethlehem  approving  the  Federal  Constitution,  and  condemn- 
ing the  acts  of  the  members  of  the  Pennsylvania  Assembly 
who  had  withdrawn  from  that  body.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  i789-'90,  and  under 
that  constitution  commissioned  an  Associate  Judge,  August 
17,  1 791.  This  position  he  held  continuously  in  North- 
ampton county,  until  the  erection  of  Lehigh  county  in  181 2,  when 
he  was  appointed  Senior  Associate  Judge  in  that  county,  which 
position  he  filled  until  his  death,  making  a  total  service  on  the 
bench  of  thirty  years. 

In  1 792  an  attempt  was  made  by  the  Allen  family  to  establish 
a  separate  county  with  Allentown  as  the  county  seat,  and  Judge 
Rhoads,  who  was  the  agent  of  the  Allen  family  at  Allentown,  took 
a  leading  part  in  the  movement,  but  the  effort  was  unsuccessful. 

About  1798,  the  Lehigh  Navigation  Company  was  formed 
for  the  purpose  of  improving  the  Lehigh  river,  and  Judge  Rhoads 
became  its  President.  After  expending  a  large  sum  of  money, 
the  company  abandoned  the  project.  In  181 1,  Allentown  was 
incorporated  into  a  borough,  and  Judge  Rhoads  was  elected  the 
first  Burgess  and  re-elected  in  1 81 2.  He  was  a  man  of  fine  physical 
proportions  and  possessed  great  energy  and  activity.  Pr.  Kgle 
in  a  sketch  of  him  says:  "Judge  Rhoads  was  a  gentleman  of  firm 
convictions,  upright  and  conscientious  and  wielded  a  great  influ- 
ence in  the  town  and  county." 

In  a  letter  written  September  22,  1814,  to  Judge  Rhoads  by 
the  eminent  lawyer,  Samuel  Sitgreaves,  of  Easton,  the  writer 
in  discussing  the  depression  of  the  Federalist  party  says:  "I  have 
become  indolent  and  inert,  and  must  leave  the  Turmoil  of  Elections 
to  younger  men  who  love  Bustle,  and  whose  Zeal  is  not  rendered 
torpid  by  Infirmity  of  Body.  I  rejoice,  my  dear  Sir,  that  you, 
to  whose  more  advanced  age  these  Observations  might  still  more 
reasonably  apply,  appear  to  preserve  the  Zeal  of  a  youthful  Spirit 
beneath  the  Frost  of  Years ;  and  I  wish  it  were  more  generally  the 


200 

Case  with  our  veteran  Patriots — Altho'  I  feel  the  weight  of  Apathy 
heavy  on  my  own  Mind,  1  much  honor  the  perennial  Vigor  of 
others — and  hope  you  may  long  live  to  infuse  your  Ardour  into 
the  refractory  Spirits  about  you." 

Judge  Rhoads  died  at  his  residence  in  this  city  on  Sunday 
evening,  December  i8,  1814,  at  nine  o'clock,  at  the  age  of  77  years 
and  8  months.  He  was  buried  the  following  Wednesday,  in  the 
cemetery  at  Tenth  and  Linden  Streets,  but  I  regret  to  say,  no 
trace  of  his  grave  can  now  be  found.  The  Friedensbote  of  Decem- 
ber 29,  1 81 4,  contains  a  notice  of  his  death,  and  after  stating  that 
he  had  served  the  public  in  an  uninterrupted  succession  of  offices 
from  the  beginning  of  the  Revolution,  with  untired  zeal,  and  that 
he  had  preserved  his  intellectual  faculties  up  to  the  last  instant, 
adds:  "In  the  fullness  of  his  heart,  one  of  his  fellow  citizens  pays 
this  tribute  to  him,"  which  I  can  not  refrain  from  quoting  in  the 
German  in  which  it  is  written,  on  account  of  the  beauty  of  the 
poem. 

"Ein  Kleinod  ist  von  eurem  Haupt  genommen, 

Ein  ehrenwerther  Vater,  Bruder,  Freund, 

Der  es  so  herzlich  gut  und  treu  gemeint; 

Doch  that's  der  Herr — von  dem  ihr  ihn  bekommen, 

Und  was  er  thut,  es  ist  alles  wohl  bedacht — 

Ja  unvergleichlich  gut  und  shoen  gemacht. 

Ehrwuerdiger  Greis!  nim  ruhe  an  den  Herzen, 

Das  dort  am  Kreuz  der  Speer  fuer  dich  durch  stach — 

Das  ueber  dich  so  goettlich  liebreich  brach; 

An  dem  du  hier  vergaszet  Noth  und  Schmerzen; 

Empfange  nun  die  schoene  Ehren-Kron, 

Als  den  fuer  deinen  Fleisz  versprochenen  Gnaden-Lohn. 

Indesz  bleibst  du  wahrhaftig  bei  uns  alien, 
Die  dich  gekannt,  verehret  und  geliebt, 
Und  die  dein  abruf  jetzt  gar  sehr  betruebt 
So  lange  wlr  im  Thraenen-Thale  wallen, 
.  Tief  eingedrueckt;  wir  denken  dankvoll  dran, 
Wie  viele  Treue  du  an  uns  gethan." 

David  Deshler. 
David  Deshler,  the  son  of  Adam  Deshler,  was  born  in  Switz- 
erland, in  1734.  His  father  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  White- 
hall township,  where  he  became  quite  prominent.  David,  his 
eldest  son,  who  was  naturalized  April  10,  1761,  purchased  the 
mill  property  on  the  Little  Lehigh  from  Michael  Rothrock  in  1762 
and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  of  Allentown.  In  1762  he  was 
taxed  ^9,  and  in  1768  for  a  grist  mill  and  a  saw  mill  and  fifty  acres 
of  land  in  Salisbury  township.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Com- 
mittee of  Observation,  which  was  chosen  December  21,  1774,  and 


20I 

was  a  delegate  from  Northampton  county  to  the  Provincial 
Conference  of  Committees,  which  met  in  Carpenters'  Hall,  Phila- 
delphia, on  June  i8,  1776.  He  was  chosen  by  this  conference  as 
one  of  the  judges  of  election  for  members  of  the  convention,  on 
July  8,  1776,  at  Allentown,  where  the  second  election  district, 
consisting  of  Northampton,  Salsburg,  Upper  Saucon,  Upper 
Milford,  Macungie,  Weisenberg,  Lynn,  Whitehall  and  Heidelburg 
held  its  election. 

On  March  12,  1777,  he  was  elected  by  the  Assembly  one  of 
the  four  Sub-Lieutenants  of  Northampton  county. 

In  his  account,  filed  September  4,  1779,  he  reports  having 
received  ^4,818  17  s.  9  p.,  from  sundry  persons  for  non-perform- 
ance of  militia  duty.  He  was  appointed  one  of  the  Commissioners 
of  Purchases  for  Northampton  county  on  February  19,  1778,  and 
on  July  7,  1780,  Assistant  Commissary  of  Purchases.  He  was  a 
delegate  to  the  convention  called  to  ratify  the  Federal  Consti- 
tution in  1787. 

Mr.  Deshler  was  a  man  of  great  ability  and  much  force  of 
character.  In  1782,  he  purchased  from  John  Benezet  of  Philadel- 
phia, the  house  built  by  George  Taylor,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration 
of  Independence,  with  the  land  belonging  to  the  plantation,  which 
Mr.  Taylor  had  sold  to  Mr.  Benezet  in  1776.  Here  he  spent  the 
latter  part  of  his  life.  When  slavery  was  abolished  in  the  state, 
Mr.  Deshler  owned  two  negroes.  He  was  one  of  the  wealthiest 
men  of  his  time  in  the  county  and  in  his  will  bequeathed  each  of 
his  six  daughters  ^^500,  his  son  David  ;/Ji,ooo,  and  his  tanyard 
and  bark-mill  to  his  son  George,  having  already  given  his  portion 
to  his  son  John  Adam. 

He  died  in  December,  1796,  at  the  age  of  62  years,  at  Biery's 
Bridge,  now  Catasauqua,  a  large  part  of  the  borough  of  Catasauqua 
occupying  what  was  then  his  farm.  The  location  of  his  grave  is 
unknown  to  the  writer,  although  it  is  probable  that  he  was  buried 
at  Shoenersville. 

Peter  Burkh alter. 

Peter  Burkhalter,  the  son  of  Ulrich  Burkhalter,  was  born 
December  2,  1731,  and  accompanied  his  parents  to  America  from 
Switzerland,  arriving  at  Philadelphia  on  September  28,  i733- 
The  family  settled  in  Whitehall  township,  where  the  father  pur- 
chased a  tract  of  300  acres  in  1743,  which  he  conveyed  by  deed  of 
gift,  to  his  only  son,  Peter,  on  March  9,  i754-'  Peter  Burkhalter 
was  naturalized  on  April  10,  176 1.  He  married  Eve  Catherine 
Deshler,  a  daughter  of  Adam  Deshler. 

On  July  8,  1776,  Mr.  Burkhalter  was  elected  a  member  of 
the  Constitutional  Convention,  which  met  on  July  15,  1776,  and 
in  November  of  that  year  was  elected  a  member  of  the  first 
Assembly  under  that  constitution,  whch  organized  on   November 


202 

28,  1776,  he  being  the  only  member  from  that  portion  of  North- 
ampton county  which  now  constitutes  Lehigh  county.  He  was 
re-elected  in  1777,  and  again  elected  in  1784,  1785  and  1786.  On 
March  30,  1 780,  he  was  appointed  one  of  the  Sub-Lieutenants  of 
Northampton  county.  His  name  also  appears  as  captain  of  a 
company  of  associators  on  May  22,  1775. 

He  died  October  22,  1805,  and  is  buried  at  Egypt  church. 


Peter  Kohler. 

Peter  Kohler,  the  son  of  Jacob  Kohler,  a  pioneer  settler  of 
Whitehall  township,  was  born  April  2,  1735,  at  Egypt.  The  first 
mention  of  him  in  active  life  is  in  1 764,  when  he  opened  a  store 
at  Egypt.  He  operated  the  grist  mill  built  by  his  father  and  also 
kept  a  house  of  entertainment  for  travelers. 

Mr.  Kohler  was  appointed  by  the  Pennsylvania  Assembly  on 
December  16,  1777,  one  of  the  persons  to  take  subscriptions  for 
the  Continental  loan  in  Northampton  county,  and  was  also  one 
of  a  committee  to  collect  clothing.  He  was  commissioned  one  of 
the  Justices  for  Northampton  county  on  May  28,  1779,  and  was 
elected  to  the  Assembly  in  1780,  1781  and  1782.  He  died  Sep- 
tember 27,  1793,  a-iid  is  buried  at  Egypt. 


Stephen  Balliet. 

Stephen  Balliet,  the  son  of  Paul  Balliet,  was  born  in  1753. 
He  married  Magdalena  Burkhalter,  a  daughter  of  Peter  Burk- 
halter.  He  became  a  Lieutenant  Colonel  in  the  Revolution,  his 
name  appearing  as  such  in  a  return  of  the  officers  of  the  Second 
Battalion  of  Northampton  county  militia,  dated  May  21,  1777. 
Under  dates  of  June  i,  1780  and  November  i,  1781,  his  name 
appears  as  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  First  Battalion. 

In  the  Journals  of  the  Assembly,  under  date  of  December  14, 
1780,  appears  the  following:  "A  petition  from  Stephen  Balliet, 
Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  First  Battalion  of  Militia  in  the  county 
of  Northampton,  was  read  stating  that  in  the  month  of  August, 
1778,  he  inlisted  twenty  men  to  serve  in  the  militia  on  the  frontiers 
of  the  said  county,  at  his  private  expense,  and  representing  certain 
difficulties  he  meets  with  in  obtaining  re-payment  of  the  monies 
so  expended;  and  praying  relief  from  the  house,  etc.,  was  ordered 
to  lie  on  the  table  for  consideration."  On  February  13,  1781,  the 
petition  was  referred  to  the  Supreme  Executive  Council. 

In  October,  1783,  Col.  Balliet  was  elected  a  member  of  the 
Supreme  Executive  Council;  in  1789,  a  member  of  the  Assembly; 
and  in  1797  was  appointed  Revenue  Collector  for  the  Second 
District  of  Pennsylvania.  He  died  August  4,  1821,  and  is  buried 
in  the  old  graveyard  at  Unionville. 


203 

George  Breinig. 

A  Revolutionary  officer  who  has  not  received  mention  of  his 
services  in  any  of  our  histories  was  George  Breinig.  A  native  of 
Germany,  where  he  was  born  January  31,  1733,  he  settled  in 
Macungie  township,  having  emigrated  to  America  in  1 749. 

He  was  one  of  the  judges  of  election  at  Allentown,  on  July  8, 
1776,  and  became  Colonel  of  the  Second  Battalion  of  Northampton 
County  Militia,  consisting  of  eight  companies,  his  name  appearing 
in  muster  rolls  dated  May  21,  1777,  and  May  14,  1778.  In  1786, 
he  was  commissioned  a  justice  of  the  district  of  Macungie  and 
Weisenberg  townships. 

He  died  May  12,  181 2,  and  is  buried  at  Lehigh  church. 

Peter  Trexler. 

Peter  Trexler,  Jr.,  son  of  Peter  Trexler,  one  of  the  first  Com- 
missioners of  Northampton  county  and  a  Colonial  Justice,  and 
grandson  of  Peter  Trexler,  the  pioneer  settler  of  Macungie  town- 
ship, was  born  August  15,  1748.  On  May  21,  1777,  he  was  captain 
of  the  fifth  company  of  Col.  Breinig's  Second  Battalion  of  Militia; 
on  November  i,  1781,  Major  of  the  First  Battalion,  under  Lieut. 
Col.  Balliet;  and  on  May  6,  1783,  was  chosen  Lieutenant  Colonel 
in  the  militia  battalion  district  of  Whitehall,  Macungie  and  Upper 
Milford  township.  The  several  persons  chosen  Lieutenant 
Colonels  met  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Hartzell,  Esq.,  on  May  14, 
1783  and  cast  lots  for  rank  of  the  battalions,  and  the  third  bat- 
talion fell  to  the  lot  of  Lieut.  Col.  Trexler.  He  died  March  13, 
1828,  and  is  buried  at  Mertztown. 

George  Graff. 

George  Graff,  born  at  Killendorf,  Alsace,  October  11,  1747, 
emigrated  to  America  with  his  father,  Jacob  Graff,  in  1 754.  The 
family  settled  in  Whitehall  township,  where  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  had  a  narrow  escape  from  death  by  Indians  on  October  8, 
1763.  George  Graff  married  Barbara,  daughter  of  Jacob  Kohler, 
and  in  1772  entered  into  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law 
Peter  Kohler,  at  Egypt.  In  1773,  Mr.  Graff  removed  to  Allentown 
and  opened  a  store  at  Eighth  and  Hamilton  Streets. 

In  June,  1776,  he  became  Captain  of  the  third  company  of 
the  First  Battalion  of  the  Flying  Camp,  which  was  commanded 
on  June  18,  1 777,  by  Col.  George  Huebner.  He  was  a  commissioner 
for  purchasing  clothing  in  Northampton  county  in  1778;  was 
elected  Collector  of  the  Excise  on  November  27,  1778,  serving  as 
such  until  January  9,  1786;  was  sheriff  of  the  county  from  1787 
to  1790;  and  a  member  of  the  Assembly  from  1793  to  1796.  In 
1 814  he  was  Burgess  of  Allentown. 

Mr.  Graff  died  February  2,  1835,  aged  87  years,  and  is  buried 
in  the  old  Allentown  Cemetery. 


204 

Henry  Hagenbuch. 

Henry  Hagenbuch,  who  was  Captain  of  a  company  of  the 
Second  Battalion  of  the  Flying  Camp,  on  August  6,  1776,  was 
born  in  1738.  He  kept  a  hotel  at  Allentown  for  many  years,  and 
died  here  April  20,  1805.  His  tombstone  is  still  to  be  seen  in 
the  old  Allentown  cemetery. 

CharIvES  Deshler. 

Charles  Deshler,  born  September  10,  1754,  was  Quarter- 
master of  the  Fourth  Battalion  of  Northampton  County  Militia, 
under  the  command  of  Lieut.  Col.  Boehm.  He  was  a  storekeeper 
here  for  many  years  and  a  prominent  citizen.  He  died  February 
4,  1 84 1,  and  is  buried  in  Union  Cemetery. 

Other  officers  who  served  in  the  Revolution,  were:  Col.  Henry 
Geiger,  Maj.  Michael  Schneider,  Maj.  Frederick  Limbach  and 
Lieut.  Abraham  Woodring,  who  may  be  made  the  subject  of 
future  sketches,  as  well  as  the  many  private  soldiers,  whom  time 
does  not  permit  us  to  mention. 


The  Mayors  of  Allentown. 

By  Wm.  L.  Hartman. 


Allentown  has  been  served  by  fifteen  Mayors  in  the  forty 
years  of  its  corporate  history.  Created  a  city  by  act  of  the  State 
Legislature,  approved  by  Governor  John  W.  Geary,  March  12, 
1867,  its  first  Mayor  was  Samuel  McHose.  He  was  elected  on  the 
third  Friday  of  March,  1867,  over  Robert  E.  Wright,  Sr.,  by  a 
vote  of  974  to  881.  Mr.  McHose  at  the  time  of  his  election  was 
president  of  the  Borough  Council.  He  was  born  in  Northampton 
County,  February  15,  1816,  a  son  of  Isaac  and  EHzabeth  (Lau- 
bach)  McHose,  and  when  he  was  four  years  old  his  parents  moved  to 
Rittersville,  in  this  county.  He  became  a  mason  and  a  contractor 
in  stone  and  brick.  As  such  he  assisted  in  the  construction  of 
the  first  successful  anthracite  blast  furnace,  built  by  David  Thomas 
at  Catasauqua  in  1839.  In  1846,  he  built  the  Allentown  Iran 
Works.  Mr.  McHose  built  nearly  every  blast  furnace  and  rolling 
mill  in  the  Lehigh  Valley,  in  the  earlier  days  of  the  iron  industry 
and  in  1854,  with  Oliver  Ritter  he  engaged  in  the  fire  brick  business 
in  this  city.  He  also  started  the  Lehigh  Valley  Fire  Brick  Works 
at  Catasauqua,  with  David  Thomas  and  Oliver  Ritter.  Mr. 
McHose  moved  to  Allentown  in  1856.  He  built  the  beautiful 
home  at  448  Hamilton  Street.  The  Jay  Cooke  panic  of  1873, 
which  nearly  completely  prostrated  the  iron  industry  in  the  Lehigh 
Valley,  dealing  blows  from  which  some  of  the  companies  never 
recovered,  played  havoc  with  Mr.  McHose 's  fortunes  and  there- 
after to  the  day  of  his  death  he  lived  a  retired  life.  In  his  early 
life,  Mr.  McHose  was  a  democrat  and  h,e  cast  his  first  Presidential 
vote  for  Martin  Van  Buren  in  1841.  Later  he  became  a.  Whig 
and  on  the  disintegration  of  that  party ,[he  joined  the  republicans. 
As  a  republican  he  was  twice  a  delegate  to  National  conventions 
in  which  he  voted  for  Lincoln  and  Grant.  Mr.  McHose  served  in 
Borough  Council,  1858  and  1859  and  again  in  1865  and  1866. 
From  1884  to  1886  he  was  a  Select  Councilman  and  was  elecetd 
President  of  the  body.  He  was  one  of  the  chief  members  of  the 
unique  Rotunda  Association.  Mr.  McHose  was  the  father  of 
eleven  children.     He  died  April  21,  1893,  at  the  age  of  77  years. 


Samuel  McHose 


Col.  Tilghman  H.  Good. 


Theodore  C.  Yeager,  M.  D.  Herman  Schuon. 

Mayors  of  Allkntown. 


207 

Coiv.  TiivGHMAN  H.  Good. 

At  the  election  in  1869,  Col.  Tilghman  H.  Good  defeated  for 
Mayor,  George  Beisel,  who  had  been  chief  of  the  borough's  Fire 
Department.  The  vote  was  1155  to  935.  At  the  same  election 
the  people  voted  by  920  to  670  to  buy  the  water  works  from  the 
company  that  had  owned  and  operated  them.  Col.  Good  was 
born  in  South  Whitehall  township,  October  6,  1830,  a  son  of 
James  and  Mary  Good,  his  mother  having  been  a  daughter  of 
Rev.  Abraham  Blumer,  who  while  pastor  of  Zion's  Reformed 
church,  concealed  the  Liberty  Bell  and  the  Christ  church  bells 
under  the  chancel  floor  to  save  them  from  falling  into  British 
hands  when  Lord  Howe's  forces  occupied  Philadelphia.  Col. 
Good  was  a  shoemaker  by  trade.  He  lived  in  Philadelphia  two 
years  and  came  to  AUentown  in  1849,  as  landlord  of  the  Allen  House 
which  he  conducted  four  years.  From  1855  to  1859  he  was 
Paying  Teller  of  the  AUentown  National  Bank,  then  a  State 
institution.  In  1849,  Col.  Good  became  Captain  of  the  Allen 
Rifles  and  when  the  Civil  War  broke  out,  he  and  his  company 
volunteered  in  April,  1861,  and  were  assigned  as  Co.  I,  First  Pa. 
Regt.,  under  Col.  S.  S.  Yohe,  and  with  Good  as  Lieutenant  Colonel. 
When  this  term  expired.  Col.  Good  organized  the  47th  Regt., 
P.  v.,  which  he  commanded  until  the  expiration  of  his  enlistment, 
September  24,  1864.  They  had  their  baptism  of  fire  at  Pocotaligo, 
S.C,  October  22,  1862,  where  Col.  Good  commanded  a  brigade. 
Col.  Good  and  his  men  were  located  long  at  Key  West,  Florida, 
served  under  General  N.  T.  Banks  in  the  Red  River  campaign  in 
Louisiana  and  were  then  transported  to  the  Shenandoah  Valley 
for  service  under  Sheridan.  In  1865,  Col.  Good  took  charge  of  the 
American  Hotel  and  in  1869,  engaged  in  the  real  estate,  banking 
and  insurance  business.  From  1 879  to  1 885  he  ran  the  Allen  House 
again,  and  then  opened  the  Fountain  House,  which  proved  unsuc- 
cessful. Thereafter  he  moved  to  Reading  where  he  conducted 
the  Grand  Central  until  his  death,  July  18,  1887.  In  1870  he 
became  Captain  of  the  Allen  Rifles  again  under  the  State's  militia 
organization,  was  promoted  to  Lieutenant  Colonel  of  the  Fourth 
Regiment  in  1874,  to  Colonel  in  1875  and  was  re-elected  in  1880. 
He  commanded  the  regiment  during  the  bloody  railroad  riots 
at  Reading  in  July,  1877.  Col.  Good  was  an  active  Mason  and 
Knight  Templar.  In  1858  he  was  elected  to  the  State  Legislature. 
He  tried  five  times  for  Mayor  of  AUentown  and  was  elected  three 
times.  In  1871  he  won  over  Herman  Schuon  by  a  majority  of  59. 
Dr.  Theodore  Conrad  Yeager  won  over  Col.  Good  in  1873  by  1470 
to  1432.  In  1874,  Col.  Good  won  again  over  Herman  Schuon. 
The  vote  was  1489  to  1365.  At  his  fifth  and  last  appearance 
as  a  candidate  for  Mayor  in  1876,  Col.  Good  lost  to  Col.  E.  B. 
Young  by  1594  to  15 16,  one  vote  being  cast  for  John  Bowen. 


208 

Dr.  T.  C.  Yeager. 
Dr.  Theodore  Conrad  Yeager,  who  was  chosen  Mayor  in  1873, 
was  born  April  i,  1828,  and  died  in  office,  January  14,  1874.  He 
was  a  son  of  Rev.  Joshua  Yeager  and  a  grandson  of  Rev.  Johann 
Conrad  Yeager,  whose  pastorates  of  Lutheran  charges  in  and 
near  AUentown,  continued  92  years.  Dr.  Yeager  became  a 
jeweler  under  Joseph  Weiss.  He  was  educated  at  the  AUentown 
Academy  and  AUentown  Seminary,  studied  medicine  with  Dr. 
Charles  h.  Martin,  began  practicing  in  i860,  engaged  in  the  drug 
business  with  Dr.  W.  E.  Barnes,  was  assistant  Medical  Inspector 
of  Lehigh  county  in  1862,  assistant  Surgeon  of  the  51st  Regt. 
in  1863,  Professor  of  Chemistry  and  Botany  at  Muhlenberg 
College  and  Deputy  Revenue  Collector  under  President  Grant. 

Herman  Schuon. 

Dr.  Yeager  having  died  in  office,  Herman  Schuon,  President 
of  Select  Council,  became  Mayor  ex-officio  and  served  to  the  end 
of  the  fiscal  year.  Mr.  Schuon  is  AUentown 's  oldest  living  ex- 
mayor.  He  was  born  in  Wurtemberg,  February  22,  1835,  and  came 
to  America  in  1854.  After  a  short  stay  in  Philadelphia  he  came  to 
AUentown  as  bartender  for  John  G.  Schimpf,  whose  daughter  he 
married  later,  succeeding  to  the  business.  Mr.  Schuon  conducted 
the  Lehigh  and  Jordan  Hotels  and  then  engaged  in  the  grocery 
business.  He  was  timekeeper  when  Capt.  James  B.  Hamersly 
was  Street  Commissioner.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the 
Lehigh  Saengerbund,  49  years  ago,  was  an  early  Barger  Lodge 
Mason  and  was  on  the  committee  of  the  Allen  Fire  Co.,  No.  7, 
that  bought  the  first  Amoskeag  fire  engine  for  AUentown.  Mr. 
Schuon  served  one  term  in  Common  Council  and  two  terms  in 
Select  Council. 

Col.  E.  B.  Young. 

Col.  Edward  B.  Young  was  Mayor  from  1876  to  1878.  He 
was  a  son  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Blumer)  Young  and  a  grandson 
of  Christian  and  Catharine  Young  and  was  born  in  AUentown, 
September  6, 1 836.  He  spent  three  years  at  Belief onte,  learning  the 
watchmaking  trade.  He  entered  the  hardware  firm  of  Barber, 
Young  &  Co.,  in  i860,  continuing  to  his  death  December  30,  1879. 
Col.  Young  was  a  lineal  descendant  of  John  Jacob  Mickley,  who 
hauled  the  Liberty  Bell  from  Philadelphia  to  AUentown,  and  of 
Rev.  Abraham  Blumer,  who  concealed  it  from  the  British  in  his 
church  in  this  city.  He  was  Second  Lieutenant  of  Co.  H,  27th 
Regt.,  in  1863.  He  served  on  the  staffs  of  Governors  Hartranft 
and  Hoyt.  He  represented  Lehigh  county  in  Republican  State 
Conventions  and  in  the  Hayes  National  Convention  at  Cincinnati 
in  1876.  Col.  Young  was  an  active  member  of  the  Columbia 
Fire  Co.,  No.  4,  and  served  as  its  Treasurer.     Before  his  elevation 


209 

to  the  mayoralty  he  was  a  Select  Councilman.  He  was  a  32° 
Mason.  Col.  Young  was  one  of  the  organizers  and  the  first  com- 
mander of  G.  A.  R.  Post,  No.  87,  now  bearing  his  name,  and  he 
was  at  one  time  a  member  of  the  Council  of  Administration  of 
the  State.  He  served  Lehigh  county  as  a  Prison  Inspector. 
During  Col.  Young's  administration  occurred  the  wave  of  labor 
riots  in  Pennsylvania,  which  was  felt  in  Allentown,  however, 
only  in  one  brief  demonstration,  which  Mayor  Young  promptly 
quelled.  It  was  during  his  term  that  AUentown's  street  market, 
now  a  thing  of  the  past,  was  established. 

Dr.  Alfred  J.  Martin. 

At  the  election  of  1878,  Dr.  Alfred  J.  Martin  was  elected 
Mayor  by  1471  votes  to  11 99  for  Daniel  G.  Gerhart  and  200  for 
J.  J.  Buchmiller.  He  was  of  a  long  and  distinguished  line  of 
physicians  in  Lehigh  county,  representatives  of  which  are  still 
engaged  in  active  practice  in  the  city.  He  was  descended  from 
Dr.  Christian  Frederick  Martin,  who  came  to  America  from  Ger- 
many with  the  pioneer  Lutheran  clergyman,  Henry  Melchior 
Muhlenberg,  and  located  at  the  Trappe.  Dr.  Martin  was  a  son 
of  Dr.  Tilghman  H.  and  Mary  A.  Martin  and  was  born  March  23, 
1837.  He  took  his  degree  at  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in 
1857.  Dr.  Martin  was  a  member  of  the  County,  Valley  and  State 
Medical  Societies.  He  was  Prison  Physician,  Coroner's  Physician, 
a  director  of  the  Allentown  National  Bank,  a  Trustee  of  St.  Luke's 
Hospital  at  South  Bethlehem,  a  founder  of  the  Livingston  Club 
and  a  Democratic  candidate  for  Presidential  elector  in  1880. 
Dr.  Martin  died  December  8,  1896.  Because  of  the  hard  times,'  a 
wave  of  economy  swept  over  Allentown  during  his  mayoralty 
and  the  number  of  policemen  was  reduced  from  twelve  to  eight. 
In  1879  the  city  discontinued  the  use  of  coal  gas  for  street 
lights  and  adopted  naphtha. 

Dr.  K.  G.  Martin. 

Dr  Edwin  G.  Martin,  cousin  of  the  above,  was  elected  Mayor 
twice.  He  was  chosen  in  1880  by  a  vote  of  1684  to  1578  for 
Frederick  A.  Ruhe  and  1 1  for  W.  Berkemeyer.  He  was  re-elected 
in  1882,  when  he  received  1899  votes  to  1783  for  Lewis  F.  Schmidt. 
Dr.  Martin  was  born  October  3,  1836,  and  died  August  30,  1893. 
He  was  graduated  from  the  University  of  Pennsylvania  in  1856  and 
besides  the  active  practice  of  medicine  he  was  prominent  in  many 
local  enterprises.  He  was  coroner  from  i860  to  1862.  In  1863 
he  was  surgeon  of  the  27th  Regt.  and  later  was  surgeon  of  the  4th 
Regt.,  N.  G.  Pa.  He  was  the  first  President  of  the  Lehigh  Valley 
Trust  and  Safe  Deposit  Co.  and  served  from  the  time  of  its  organ- 
ization in  1886  to  his  death.  He  was  President  of  the  Board  of 
Trade,  a  Trustee  of  Muhlenberg  College,  a  trustee  of  the  Allentown 


Col.  Edaaku  B.  Young. 


Alfred  J.  Martin.  M.  D. 


Edwin  G.  Martin,  M.  D.  Edward  3.  Shimer. 

Mayors  of  Allentown. 


211 

College  for  Women,  one  of  the  first  trustees  and  the  first  secretary 
of  the  Board  of  the  State  Insane  Asylum  at  Norristown,  was  a 
Prison  Inspector  and  a  founder  of  the  Livingston  Club.  He  con- 
ducted a  drug  store,  was  in  the  Jordan  Manufacturing  Co.,  Allen- 
town  and  Coopersburg  Turnpike  Co.,  Allentown  and  Bethlehem 
Turnpike  Co.,  Lehigh  Telegraph  Co.,  was  a  director  of  the  Allen- 
town  National  Bank,  was  a  founder  of  the  Free  Library  Association 
and  was  at  one  time,  President  of  the  former  Washington  Fire  Co. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  County, Valley  and  State  Medical  Societies 
and  was  the  first  President  of  the  Lehigh  Valley  Society.  During 
Dr.  Martin's  incumbency  the  Adelaide  Silk  Mill  was  secured  for 
this  city,  which  marked  a  new  era  in  the  city's  industrial  develop- 
ment. Dr.  Martin  was  the  only  Allentonian  ever  elected  Grand 
Commander  of  the  Knights  Templar  of  Pennsylvaniaa. 

E.  S.  Shimkr. 

Edward  S.  Shimer  was  elected  Mayor  in  1884,  receiving  2004 
votes  to  1820  for  W.  K.  Ruhe.  Mr.  Shimer  was  descended  in  the 
sixth  generation  from  Daniel  Shimer  who  emigrated  from  Germany 
and  settled  in  Northampton  county.  Two  villages  in  the  adjoin- 
ing counties  of  Lehigh  and  Northampton  bear  the  family  name. 
Mr.  Shimer  was  one  of  the  t^n  children  of  Charles  and  Anna 
(Schantz)  Shimer  and  was  born  July  13,  1832.  He  clerked  at 
stores  in  Emau^  and  Shimersville  and  came  to  Allentown  when 
seventeen  years  old  to  become  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  Grim  &  Ren- 
inger,  becoming  a  partner  five  years  later  when  the  firm  name 
was  changed  to  Reninger  &  Shimer.  In  1879  the  name  was 
changed  to  E.  S.  Shimer  &  Co.  In  1895  he  founded  the  carpet 
house  of  Shimer  &  Co.  Later  he  opened  a  real  estate  and  insurance 
office.  Mr.  Shimer  was  a  director  of  the  Millerstown  Bank  and 
Millerstown  Iron  Co.,  a  director  of  the  Allen  Fire  Insurance  Co., 
and  a  Trustee  of  Muhlenberg  College,  from  its  founding  in  1867 
to  his  death,  March  13,  1902.  In  1894  he  contested  with  Harry 
G.  Stiles  for  the  State  Senatorship  but  lost,  the  vote  being  8491 
to  8124.  In  1897  he  tried  for  the  Aldermanship  of  the  fifth  ward. 
It  was  a  contest  among  three  candidates  and  Allen  W.  Haines 
won  by  228  votes  to  156  for  Mr.  Shimer  and  145  for  John  W.  Sepp. 
While  Mr.  Shimer  was  Mayor,  the  electric  fire  alarm  system  was 
introduced  in  this  city. 

W.  K.  RuHE. 

At  the  election  of  1886,  Werner  K.  Ruhe  was  chosen  Mayor 
over  Alexander  J.  Zellner.  The  vote  was  1967  to  1888.  Mr. 
Ruhe  was  a  son  of  Augustus  L.  and  Addie  L.  Ruhe  and  was  born  in 
1843.  He  died  February  6,  1904.  He  learned  the  printing  trade 
under  his  father  in  the  office  of  the  Allentown  Democrat,  entering 
in  July,  1859.     In  June,  1865,  he  purchased  his  father's  interest 


Werner  K.  Ruhe. 


Ml 

Henry  W.  Allison. 


Col.  Samuel  D.  Lehr.  Fred  E.  Lewis. 

Mayors  of  Allentown, 


213 

in  the  paper  and  continued  a  partner  with  C.  Frank  Haines.  He 
was  a  director  of  the  Allentown  National  Bank  and  the  Allen 
Fire  Insurance  Co.  and  was  President  of  the  Allentown  Hardware 
Works.  Mr.  Ruhe  was  an  active  member  of  the  Columbia  Fire  Co. , 
was  long  its  Treasurer,  served  on  the  committee  which  on  Novem- 
ber 24,  1864,  bought  the  Columbia  Fire  engine,  and  on  March 
16,  1872,  was  elected  Chief  of  the  Fire  Department  over  Charles 
Mertz  by  a  vote  of  210  to  185.  Mr.  Ruhe  served  twice  in  emer- 
gencies during  the  Civil  War  in  the  5th  and  41st  Regiments. 
While  Mayor  the  garbage  removal  system  was  established  in 
Allentown  and  he  made  the  first  recommendation  for  the  purchase 
of  the  Fountain  House  property  for  water  works  purposes,  and 
while  Chief  he  made  the  first  recommendation  for  the  procurement 
of  a  Hook  and  Ladder  Truck.  January  4,  1887,  the  electric  light 
service  was  established  on  Hamilton  St.,  and  in  September  fol- 
lowing 75  electric  lights  were  put  to  use  on  the  city  streets. 

H.  W.  A1.1.ISON. 

Henry  W.  Allison  was  elected  Mayor  twice  and  was  defeated 
once.  At  the  election  of  1888,  Mr.  Allison  won  over  Dr.  W.  H. 
Hartzell  by  a  vote  of  2402  to  2163.  In  1893  he  was  successful 
again.  The  vote  was  2802  to  2574  for  Dr.  H.  H.  Herbst  and  58 
for  T.  P.  Peters.  In  1899,  Mr.  Allison  lost  to  Capt.  James  L. 
Schaadt,  the  vote  being  3851  to  3102.  Mr.  Allison  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky  and  was  born  at  Catlettsburg,  in  that  State,  July  8, 
1846.  His  ancestors  were  early  settlers  of  Pennsylvania.  His 
father  was  born  at  Catawissa  and  his  mother  at  Muncy.  They 
moved  west  after  their  marriage  and  settled  at  Catlettsburg,  which 
was  then  an  important  trading  post.  His  father  was  in  the  char- 
coal iron  business.  Mr.  Allison  started  in  the  iron  business  in 
his  native  state  in  1861,  and  in  1866  went  to  Hazleton  where  he 
was  connected  for  nine  years  with  A.  A.  Pardee  &  Co.,  coal  opera- 
tors. In  1875  he  came  to  Allentown  as  general  manager  of  the 
Allentown  Rolling  Mills  which  position  he  has  filled  continuously 
to  this  day.  He  was  active  in  the  Board  of  Trade  and  was  a 
founder  and  the  first  President  of  the  Livingston  Club.  As 
Mayor,  Mr.  Allison  made  the  first  appointment  of  the  Chief  of 
the  Fire  Department.  In  1893  all  street  lighting  was  changed 
to  electricity.  It  was  during  Mr.  Allison's  term  in  1889,  that 
the  railroads  built  their  lines  through  the  city  and  established 
their  stations  on  Hamilton  Street  at  opposite  ends,  of  the  Jordan 
bridge. 

Col.  S.  D.  Lehr. 

Col.  Samuel  D.  Lehr  was  elected  Mayor  over  Wm.  F.  Yeager 
in  1890  by  a  vote  of  2473  to  2234.  He  was  born  in  Allentown, 
May  30,  1838.  In  his  boyhood  days  he  worked  in  the  brickyard 
of  Dr.  Jesse  Samuels  and  later  took  employment  under  the  same 


214 

as  a  civil  engineer.  He  helped  to  lay  out  the  lines  of  the  Lehigh 
Valley  Railroad  between  Allentown  and  Easton  and  the  Allentown 
and  Auburn  Railroad  between  this  city  and  Port  Clinton.  One 
of  his  associates  on  the  latter  was  George  B.  Roberts,  later  President 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Railroad.  He  also  assisted  in  laying  out  the 
Ironton  Railroad  and  the  East  Penn  Railroad.  From  November  7, 
1862,  to  August  18,  1863,  he  was  captain  of  Co.  B.,  176th  Regt.  P.  V., 
during  which  time  he  served  at  Charleston  and  Hilton  Head,  S.  C. 
In  1864  he  was  a  recruiting  agent  in  West  Virginia,  Washington 
and  Norfolk.  Col.  Lehr  entered  the  service  of  G.  A.  Aschbach 
as  an  engineer  in  1865  and  in  1868  formed  a  partnership  with 
R.  R.  Emery,  which  continued  three  years.  From  1869  to  1889 
he  was  City  Engineer  of  Allentown.  Col.  Lehr  then  opened  a 
civil  engineering  office  and  in  1894  had  J.  Howard  Martz  as  a 
partner,  and  later  A.  W.  Leh  was  admitted  to  the  firm.  Since 
July  22,  1 901,  the  firm  has  been  Lehr  &  Bascom.  One  of  Col. 
Lehr's  most  praiseworthy  works  has  been  the  preparation  of  a 
title  map  of  the  city  tracing  the  ownership  of  all  property  through 
successive  stages  to  the  Wm.  Allen  grants.  Col.  Lehr  served  in 
City  Councils  from  1897  to  1901.  He  is  President  of  the  Penn- 
sylvania Loan  and  Building  Association,  and  a  member  of  E.  B. 
Young  Post,  No.  87.,  G.  A.  R.  In  1869  he  organized  the  Allen  Con- 
tinentals, later  Co.  B.,  4th  Regt.  N.  G.  Pa.,  and  served  as  captain 
until  elected  major,  December  2,  1875.  Resigning  January  11,  1876, 
he  took  up  the  captaincy  again  and  commanded  his  company  at 
the  Reading  riots.  He  was  elected  colonel  of  the  4th  Regt.,  Oct. 
29,  1885,  and  served  five  years,  being  in  command  at  the  camps  in 
this  city  in  1886  and  at  Slatington  in  1888.  When  Col.  Lehr 
tried  for  the  nomination  as  a  Democratic  candidate  for  Mayor, 
it  took  thirty  ballets  to  make  the  choice,  the  other  candidates 
being  James  F.  Gallagher,  Wm.  R.  Henninger,  W.  K.  Ruhe,  A. 
D.  Dresher  and  J.  S.  Dillinger.  While  he  was  Mayor,  in  1890,  the 
trolley  made  its  debut  in  Allentown. 

Frkd  E.  Lewis. 

The  Mayoralty  elections  of  1896  and  1902  proved  successful 
for  Fred  E.  Lewis.  In  1896  he  had  3301  votes  to  3036  for  ex-con- 
gressman Wm.  H.  Sowden  and  133  for  F.  D.  Graffin.  The  vote 
in  1902  was:  F.  E.  Lewis  4594,  H.  E.  Crilly,  3986  and  J.  D. 
Kistler,  40.  Mr.  Lewis  was  a  grandson  of  Samuel  Lewis,  Sr., 
one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  iron  industry  in  eastern  Pennsylvania 
and  a  founder  of  the  Allentown  Iron  Works  with  which  his  father 
Samuel  B.  Lewis  was  also  identified.  Mr.  Lewis  was  born  in  this 
city,  February  8,  1864.  He  studied  in  the  public  schools  here,  at 
New  Haven,  Conn.,  and  in  Muhlenberg  College,  where  he  nearly 
completed  his  Junior  year.  Then  he  entered  the  law  office  of  R.  E. 
Wright  &  Son  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar,  February  8, 1888.  He 
was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Lehigh  Telephone  Co.,  Keystone 


215    ' 

Cement  Block  Co.,  Allentown  Sand  &  Coal  Co.,  Allentown  and 
So.  Allentown  Bridge  Co.  and  has  been  President  of  the  Merchants 
National  Bank  since  it  was  opened  March  30,  1904.  He  was  at 
one  time  President  of  the  Board  of  Trade  and  is  an  active  member 
of  the  Good  Will  Fire  Co.,  No.  3.  He  is  at  present  President  of 
the  Clover  Club.  He  has  served  on  the  Executive  Committee 
of  the  State  Firemen's  Association.  In  1902  Mr.  Lewis 
aspired  to  the  Republican  nomination  of  Lieutenant  Gov- 
ernor of  the  State,  but  when  the  nomination  for  Governor  came 
to  the  adjoining  county  of  Montgomery  a  Western  Pennsylvanian 
was  named.  In  1906  his  name  was  again  brought  forward  but 
Mr.  Lewis  withdrew  it  before  the  convention  met.  The  Central 
Fire  and  Police  Station  was  built  in  1896  during  Mr.  Lewis'  term, 
the  Pioneer  Fire  Co.  was  admitted  in  1898  and  the  Schantz's 
Spring  property  was  purchased  in  1897. 

Captain  James  L.  Schaadt. 

Allentown's  thirteenth  Mayor,  Capt.  James  L.  Schaadt,  was 
born  in  North  Whitehall  township,  December  21,  1856,  a  son  of 
Capt.  David  Schaadt.  He  was  graduated  from  Muhlenberg  College 
with  second  honor  in  1874  ^^^  studied  law  with  Thomas  B. 
Metzgar,  being  admitted  to  the  bar  April  10,  1878.  He  was 
County  Solicitor  from  1888  to  1891,  District  Attorney  from  1892 
to  1895  and  chairman  of  the  Democratic  County  Committee  for 
three  years.  Mr.  Schaadt  is  an  active  member  of  the  Liberty 
Fire  Co.  He  became  a  National  Guardsman,  June  21,  1878,  as  a 
private  in  Co.  D.,  4th  Regt.  and  was  promoted  to  Sergeant.  He 
re-enlisted.  May  20,  1884,  in  Co.  B  as  a  private,  became  company 
clerk,  regimental  clerk  and  corporal.  June  17,  1889,  he  was  com- 
missioned quartermaster  of  the  regiment.  Dec.  29,  1890,  he  was 
elected  Captain  of  Co.  B.  and  served  five  years,  declining  a  re-elec- 
tion. He  commanded  his  company  at  the  Homestead  riots  in 
1892.  While  Mr.  Schaadt  was  Mayor,  the  soldiers'  monument 
was  erected  on  Centre  Square  in  1899.  The  city  purchased  the 
Holly  pump.  Asphalting  of  the  streets  was  started  in  1900. 
Many  storm  water  sewers  were  built,  the  Allentown  Hospital 
was  opened,  the  ambulance  service  was  established,  a  steam  road 
roller  was  purchased,  the  Lehigh  Telephone  Co.  was  organized, 
the  garbage  crematory  begun,  new  houses  built  for  the  Pioneer, 
Franklin,  Hibernia  and  Allen  Fire  companies,  and  the  Liberty's 
house  rebuilt  and  enlarged. 

Dr.  a.  J.  Yost. 

The  election  of  1905  resulted  favorably  to  Dr.  Alfred  J.  Yost, 
who  received  4975  votes  to  3571  for  Dr.  V.  H.  Wieand,  97  for 
J.  D.  Kistler  and  one  for  J.  Taylor  Roth.  Dr.  Yost  was  born 
August  13,  1870,  at  So.  Bethlehem,  the  son  of^Dr.  Martin  L.  Yost, 


Capt.  James  L.  Schaadt. 


Alfred  J.  Yost,  M.  D. 


C.  D.  ScHAEFFER.  M.  D.  Harry  G.  Stiles. 

Mayors  of  Allentown. 


217 

who  was  a  son  of  John  Yost  and  who  met  a  tragic  death,  December 
3,  1904,  when  a  trolley  car  struck  his  carriage  as  he  was  making  a 
professional  call.  He  was  graduated  from  Muhlenberg  College 
in  1890  and  from  the  University  of  Pa.  in  1893.  In  the  latter 
year  he  was  nominated  for  coroner  by  a  vote  of  4123  to  2731  for 
James  Goheen  and  1428  for  W.  H.  Knauss.  He  was  elected  by 
a  plurality  of  693  over  Dr.  W.  Niles  Powell.  He  was  renominated 
in  1906,  the  vote  being,  Dr.  Yost,  3154,  Dr.  I.  F.  Huebner,  2559, 
James  Goheen  231 1,  and  Albert  Pfeiffer  332.  Dr.  Yost  was 
re-elected,  having  a  plurality  of  716  over  Major  James  R.  Roney. 
In  1902  Dr.  Yost  tried  for  the  Democratic  nomination  for  Mayor 
and  received  forty  votes  in  the  convention.  Mr.  Crilly  won  with 
89  votes.  Dr.  Yost  was  nominated  for  Mayor  by  acclamation 
in  1905,  at  which  time  he  had  just  recovered  from  a  severe  attack 
of  pneumonia.  This  so  undermined  his  health  that  in  September 
following  his  inauguration  he  was  advised  to  go  to  Denver,  Col., 
where  he  remained  until  March  11,  1907,  when  he  returned  home 
to  die,  and  the  end  came  April  i6th,  following. 

Dr.  C.  D.  Schaeffer. 

When  the  state  of  Dr.  Yost's  health  demanded  that  he  go 
to  Colorado,  City  Councils  elected  Dr.  C.  D.  Schaeffer  as  Acting 
Mayor.  He  is  a  son  of  David  and  Elizabeth  Schaeffer  and  was 
born  in  Maxatawny  Township,  Berks  County,  November  4,  1864. 
He  is  one  of  five  sons,  all  of  whom  are  graduates  of  the  Keystone 
State  Normal  School  at  Kutztown,  four  are  graduates  of  Franklin 
and  Marshall  College  at  Lancaster,  two  of  the  Reformed  Church 
Theological  Seminary  and  one.  Dr.  Schaeffer,  of  the  Medical  Depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Pa.  One  of  these  is  Superintendent 
of  Public  Instruction  of  the  State,  another  is  a  Professor  in  the 
Reformed  Church  Theological  Seminary,  a  third  is  a  lawyer  at 
Reading,  a  fourth  tills  the  ancestral  farm  and  the  fifth  is  Dr. 
Schaeffer.  He  is  an  alumnus  of  F.  and  M.  College,  Class  of  1886, 
and  won  his  M.  D.  degree  in  1889.  Locating  in  Allentown,  he 
soon  achieved  more  than  local  reputation  as  a  physician  and  sur- 
geon. He  has  been  President  of  the  Board  of  Health,  is  a  Director 
of  the  Allentown  National  Bank  and  has  been  a  dominant  factor 
in  the  Allentown  Hospital  since  its  inception  in  1898,  as  a  Trustee 
and  Surgeon-in-Chief.  While  a  medical  student,  he  was  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  Agnew  Society,  and  is  now  a  member  of  the 
Lehigh  Co.  Medical  Society,  Lehigh  Valley  Medical  Association, 
Medical  Society  of  Pa.,  Mississippi  Valley  Medical  Society,  Amer- 
ican Medical  Association,  and  the  Roentgen  Ray  Society.  Fol- 
lowing the  death  of  Dr.  Yost,  City  Councils  unanimously  elected 
Dr.  Schaeffer  mayor  to  fill  out  the  unexpired  term. 


2l8 

Harry  G.  StilES. 

Harry  Gibons  Stiles,  Allentown's  latest  Mayor,  assumed  his 
office  on  the  first  Monday  of  April  in  this  year.  He  won  out  at 
the  Democratic  primaries,  January  25th,  over  four  competitors 
by  a  Plurality  of  120,  and  was  successful  at  the  election,  February 
1 8th,  by  a  plurality  of  778  over  former  Mayor  Fred  E.  Lewis.  Mr. 
Stiles  is  a  son  of  the  late  John  D.  Stiles  who  was  a  leading  lawyer  of 
the  Lehigh  County  Bar,  and  who  served  thrice  in  Congress.  Born 
in  Allentown,  December  16,  1856,  Mr.  Stiles  was  graduated  from 
the  local  High  School,  June  30,  1874,  studied  at  Muhlenberg 
College  and  at  Harvard  Law  School.  He  was  admitted  to  the 
bar  April  14,  1870.  In  1884  he  was  nominated  a  Presidential 
Elector.  He  served  as  District  Attorney  of  Lehigh  County  during 
the  three  years  following  1889.  In  1894  he  was  elected  to  the 
State  Senate,  and  was  re-elected  four  years  later.  He  is  an  active 
member  of  the  Rescue  Hook  and  Ladder  Company,  No.  8. 

It  will  thus  be  seen  that  Allentown  has  been  signally  fortunate 
in  its  mayors.  All  have  been  conspicuous  and  prominent  men, 
and  have  contributed  to  the  success,  growth  and  prosperity  of 
one  of  the  most  progressive  cities  of  Pennsylvania. 

[Acknowledgment  is  due  H.  H.  Knerr  for  the  use  of  the  cuts  illus- 
trating this  article.] 


Tn  mcmoriam. 


Frank  W.  Koch. 

We  all  sadly  recall  the  thrill  of  horror  that  swept  over  Allen- 
town  on  that  beautiful  Sunday  morning  of  July  ist,  1906,  when 
the  cable  ticked  the  sad  news  of  the  fatal  accident  to  the  steam- 
boat train  at  Salisbury,  England,  the  night  before,  in  which 
twenty-three  passengers  and  four  trainmen  were  killed,  one  of 
the  former  having  been  our  esteemed  townsman  and  fellow 
member,  Frank  W.  Koch.  Mr.  Koch  had  left  AUentown  with 
his  wife  and  only  daughter  on  June  22nd,  sailing  the  following 
day  on  a  tour  that  was  to  have  continued  several  months.  It 
was  within  a  few  hours  after  having  landed  at  Plymouth  that 
the  frightful  accident  happened,  bringing  their  expected  pleasant 
trip  to  an  abrupt  close  and  shrouding  their  home  with  sorrow. 
His  body  was  brought  back  to  this  country  and  laid  away  amongst 
the  people  who  had  known,  respected  and  honored  him. 

Mr.  Koch  was  55  years  of  age.  He  was  born  at  Kuhnsville, 
Lehigh  County,  January  10,  1 85 1 ,  and  came  to  AUentown  at  the  age 
of  twenty.  He  learned  the  tailoring  trade  with  the  firm  of  H.  M. 
Leh  &  Co.  March  30,  1876,  with  the  late  Wilson  Shankweiler, 
Mr.  Koch  engaged  in  the  clothing  business  on  a  small  scale  at 
No.  618  Hamilton  St.  The  business  prospered,  due  to  their  enter- 
prise, thrift  and  careful  attention.  In  1885  they  bought  the 
Allen  House  property  on  Centre  Square,  razed  the  old  building, 
and  erected  on  the  site  the  present  beautiful  and  commodious 
Hotel  Allen  building,  a  large  part  of  which  is  occupied  by  the  cloth- 
ing establishment  which  Mr.  Koch  founded.  The  building  was' 
enlarged  and  beautified  several  times  and  the  business  was 
expanded  to  mammoth  proportions.  Upon  the  death  of  his 
business  associate,  Mr.  Koch  secured  as  a  partner  his  brother 
Thomas  J.  Koch,  the  firm  name  being  changed  to  Koch  Brothers, 
as  it  remains  to-day. 

Mr.  Koch  was  one  of  Allentown's  wealthiest  and  most  suc- 
cessful merchants.  He  was  an  active  member  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  and  was  one  of  the  most  liberal  contributors  to  the  found- 


220 

ing  of  Christ  congregation  in  the  western  part  of  the  city,  which 
he  also  served  as  an  officer.  He  was  also  a  director  of  the  Allen- 
town  National  Bank,  a  trustee  of  Muhlenberg  College  and  of  the 
Allentown  Hospital,  and  a  member  of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce 
and  of  the  Livingston  Club.  His  membership  in  the  Lehigh 
County  Historical  Society  dated  from  May  12,  1906.  Mr.  Koch 
was  its  first  member  against  whose  name  was  "set  the  fatal 
asterisk  of  death." 

A1.EXANDER  S.  Shimer. 

Alexander  Schantz  Shimer,  who  became  a  member  of  the 
Lehigh  County  Historical  Society  May  12,  1906,  was  a  scion  of 
one  of  the  oldest  families  in  the  Lehigh  Valley.  His  father  was 
Charles  B.  Shimer  and  his  mother  was  Hannah  Schantz.  He 
was  born  August  15,  1840,  at  Shimersville,  Lehigh  county,  a 
village  to  which  an  ancestor  had  given  the  family  name.  He 
was  one  of  nine  children,  all  of  whom  attained  to  maturity,  one 
of  his  brothers  having  served  as  mayor  of  Allentown.  Mr. 
Shimer  early  entered  upon  mercantile  life,  serving  as  a  salesman 
at  Macungie  and  then  establishing  his  store  at  Shimersville.  He 
moved  to  Allentown  in  1866,  when  he  and  a  brother  founded  the 
firm  of  Shimer  Brothers.  He  retired  from  the  business  in  1876 
to  become  superintendent  of  Fisher's  pipe  foundry,  in  which  he 
later  became  a  partner.  In  1890  he  became  a  stockholder  in  the 
Donaldson  Iron  Co.  at  Kmaus,  and  when  the  Lehigh  Portland 
Cement  Co.  was  incorporated  he  was  one  of  its  founders,  serving 
also  as  a  director  of  both.  Mr.  Shimer's  business  life  was  attended 
with  much  success  and  in  his  later  years  he  was  enabled  to  enjoy 
that  gentlemanly  leisure  that  was  the  fruit  of  his  labor.  He  was 
active  in  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church.  He  died  October  5,  1906, 
leaving  a  widow. 

Henry  A.  Kline. 

Henry  A.  Kline,  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Anna  (Wetherhold) 
Kline,  was  born  in  Lowhill  township,  Lehigh  county,  June  6, 
1844.  He  was  the  grandson  of  Jacob  and  Susanna  (Gross)  Kline, 
the  great  grandson  of  Peter  and  Margaret  Klein,  and  the  great- 
great-grandson  of  Philip  Wendel  Klein,  who  came  to  America  in 
"^744.  He  attended  the  public  schools  at  his  home  and  completed 
his  education  at  Franklin  and  Marshall  College.  He  taught  in 
the  public  schools  of  Lehigh,  Carbon  and  Luzerne  counties  from 
i860  to  1 86 1.  He  was  the  first  instructor  to  establish  a  High 
School  in  Lehigh  county,  at  Slatington.  From  1881  to  1897  he 
was  a  resident  of  Wilkes- Barre, where  he  was  instructor  in  music 
and  leader  of  a  band  and  orchestra.  A  teacher  of  music  for 
thirty  years,  his  experience  and  generosity  to  less  fortunate 
persons,  enabled  him  to  assist  and  help  them  in  their  musical 


221 

work,  often  giving  hours  of  patience  and  study  that  have  made 
young  men  and  young  women  well  known  in  musical  circles. 

Mr.  Kline  married  on  December  2,  1869,  Amanda  Isabella, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Violetta  (Kern)  Kuntz,  of  Slatington, 
who  survives  him,  with  the  following  children:  Harry  J.  Kline, 
of  Philadelphia;  Mrs.  W/^alter  Groves,  of  Slatington;  and  Miss  A. 
Violet  Kline.  Mr.  Kline  succumbed  to  a  stroke  of  apoplexy  at 
10.30  o'clock  on  Sunday  morning,  October  7,  1906.  The  inter- 
ment was  made  on  the  following  Wednesday,  at  Slatington. 

Mr.  Kline  was  affiliated  with  the  following  orders:  Free  and 
Accepted  Masons,  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  Knights 
of  Pythias,  Junior  Order  of  United  American  Mechanics,  Patriotic 
Order  Sons  of  America,  Knights  of  Malta,  serving  in  1891  as 
Deputy  Commander  of  the  latter  in  Wilkes-Barre  and  the  Royal 
Arcanum.  He  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Lehigh  County 
Historical  Society,  becoming  a  member  at  its  second  meeting  on 
June  15,  1904,  and  took  a  great  interest  in  the  work  of  the  society. 
In  him  this  society  lost  a  valuable  member. 

Rev.  Frankun  J.  F.  Schantz,  D.  D. 

Rev.  Franklin  J.  F.  Schantz,  D.  D.,  was  born  January  8, 
1836,  at  Schantz's  Mill,  at  the  head  of  Cedar  Creek,  Upper  Macun- 
gie  township,  Lehigh  county,  and  was  baptized  in  his  infancy 
by  Rev.  Daniel  Zeller.  He  was  the  son  of  Jacob  Schantz,  (born 
Nov.  28,  1 791;  died  June,  1843)  a  miller,  who,  like  his  father, 
owned  and  operated  the  mill  at  the  head  of  Cedar  Creek,  and  his 
wife  Sarah  Fogel  (born  July  25,  1799;  died  April  25,  1871),  the 
daughter  of  Hon.  John  and  Catharine  (Stettler)  Fogel,  of  Fogels- 
ville;  the  grandson  of  Jacob  Schantz,  born  in  1761,  who  came  to 
Pennsylvania  as  a  Redemptioner,  making  his  home  with  Peter 
Kohler,  at  Egypt,  where  he  learned  the  milling  business,  and 
whose  name  appears  as  a  private  in  Captain  Zerfass'  company 
of  Colonel  Stephen  Balliet's  battalion  in  the  Revolutionary  War, 
and  his  wife  Maria  Bortz ;  and  the  great-grandson  of  John  Schantz, 
who  arrived  in  Pennsylvania  on  October  i,  1770,  accompanied  by 
his  four  sons. 

Dr.  Schantz  was  instructed  in  his  youth  in  St.  Paul's  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Church,  at  Allentown,  where  he  was  confirmed 
October  26,  1851,  by  Rev.  Jeshua  Yeager.  His  early  education 
was  in  the  public  and  private  schools  of  the  neighborhood,  fol- 
lowed by  an  attendance  at  the  Allentown  Academy  from  April, 
1848  to  1850,  and  then  at  the  Allentown  Seminary  until  the  fall 
of  1853,  when  he  entered,  the  Junior  class  of  Franklin  and  Marshall 
College  at  Lancaster,  graduating  from  the  same  in  1855,  and  from 
the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  on  September 
15,  1857.  He  was  licensed  as  a  Lutheran  minister  by  the  West 
Pennsylvania  Synod  on  September  28,  1857,  and  ordained  at  the 
meeting  of  the  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania  at  Easton  on  June 
3,  1858. 


222 

On  April  29,  1858,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Cor- 
delia S.  Saeger,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Eliza  (Eckert)  Saeger, 
of  Allentown,  who  preceded  him  in  death  by  seventeen  years. 
Three  of  their  children  survive;  Henry  F.,  a  practising  physician 
in  Reading,  Mrs.  John  P.  Spangler,  of  Philadelphia,  and  Mrs.  W. 
Stanton  Haak,  of  Lebanon. 

From  October,  1857,  to  January,  1861,  Dr.  Schantz  had 
charge  of  Trinity  Church,  Reading;  of  the  Catasauqua  parish 
from  1 86 1  to  1866;  assistant  agent  of  the  Theological  Seminary, 
Philadelphia,  Nov.  5,  1865,  to  September  30,  1866,  then  general 
agent  until  June  30,  1867.  In  July,  1867,  he  became  pastor  of 
the  Myerstown  Church,  and  retained  this  charge  until  his  decease. 
He  also  served  the  Mount  Aetna  congregation,  Zion's  Church  at 
Jonestown  from  July,  1867,  to  December,  1881,  and  Emanuel 
Church  at  Brickerville,  Lancaster  county  from  1876  to  1879. 

In  1867,  he  was  elected  a  trustee  at  the  meeting  of  the  stock- 
holders of  the  association  formed  to  purchase  the  property  of 
the  Allentown  Seminary  and  which  became  Muhlenberg  College. 
He  continued  on  the  Board  of  Trustees  uninterruptedly  for  almost 
forty  years.  He  was  secretary  of  the  Third  Conference  in  1861; 
president  of  the  same  i869-'7i ;  and  president  of  the  Fourth  Con- 
ference, i872-'76.  He  became  a  member  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  the  Ministerium  in  1869,  and  was  secretary  since  1879. 
He  was  a  trustee  of  the  Orphans'  Home  at  Germantown,  i872-'75 ; 
a  delegate  to  the  General  Council  since  1874;  ^^^  a  member  of 
the  English  Home  Mission  Board  since  1882.  The  degree  of 
Doctor  of  Divinity  was  conferred  upon  him  by  Augustana  College 
and  Theological  Seminary,  at  Rock  Island,  111.,  in  1894.  At  a 
meeting  of  the  Lutheran  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania,  in  Allen- 
town, in  May,  1901,  he  was  made  president  of  that  great  body, 
and  re-elected  to  the  same  office.  May,  1902,  and  June,  1903. 

He  was  president  of  the  Lebanon  County  Historical  Society, 
and  in  1899  was  elected  president  of  the  Pennsylvania  German 
Society.  Dr.  Schantz  took  great  interest  in  historical  research. 
He  made  scores  of  addresses  on  his  favorite  subject  and  wrote 
a  number  of  most  interesting  and  valuable  articles,  among  which 
are  the  following:  "Historical  Address  at  Quarto-Centennial 
of  Allentown  Seminary,"  1873;  "The  Sesqui-Centennial  Discourse, 
Christ  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  near  Stouchsburg,'  Pa.," 
1893;  "The  Sesqui-Centennial  Sermon,  Jordan  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church,  Lehigh  County,  Pa.,"  1894;  "Historical  Dis- 
course, 155th  Anniversary  of  Jerusalem  Church,  Salisbury  town- 
ship, Lehigh  Co.,  Pa.,"  1896;  "Historical  Address  Centennial  of 
Third  Church  Building  of  Christ  German  Lutheran  Congrega- 
tion, Rockland  Township,  Berks  County,  Pa.,"  1898  ;  "Semi- 
Centennial  of  Muhlenberg  College,"  1898  ;  "Domestic  Life  and 
Characteristics  of  the  Pennsylvania  German  Pioneer,"  in  Vol. 
10  of  the  Proceedings  of  the    Pennsylvania   German   Society. 


223 

Dr.  Schantz  took  a  great  interest  in  the  Lehigh  County 
Historical  Society  and  became  a  member  on  August  17,  1906. 
His  last  appearance  before  an  Allentown  audience  and  one  which 
he  stated  afforded  him  the  greatest  pleasure  was  before  this 
society  on  October  12,  1906,  when  he  read  an  exceedingly  inter- 
esting paper  entitled,  "Allentown  and  its  Vicinity  about  Sixty 
Years  Ago." 

His  death  occured  suddenly,  at  10.45  P-  M.,  on  Saturday, 
January  19,  1907,  from  failure  of  the  heart,  in  his  home  at  Myers- 
town.  The  funeral  services  were  held  on  January  23,  in  Frieden's 
Lutheran  Church,  Myerstown  and  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church, 
Allentown,  and  interment  was  made  in  Union  Cemetery,  Allen- 
town. He  loved  his  birthplace,  he  loved  this  county,  and  the 
least  we  can  do  is  to  keep  his  memory  green. 

Mrs.  Robert  Iredell,  jr. 

Mrs.  Matilda  G.  Iredell,  widow  of  Robert  Iredell,  Jr.,  who  became 
a  charter  member  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society,  January 
13,  1906,  was  born  at  Beaver  Meadow,  Pa.,  a  daughter  of  Charles 
Von  Tagen,  formerly  of  this  city  and  later  of  Norristown.  She 
was  married  to  Mr.  Iredell  in  the  latter  borough  and  they  moved 
to  Allentown  in  the  late  sixties.  Mr.  Iredell  founded  the  Daily 
Chronicle  in  1870,  to  which  he  added  the  Lehigh  Valley  Daily 
News  and  the  Lehigh  Register,  the  last  named  being  a  weekly. 
In  addition  to  his  publication  interests,  Mr.  Iredell  was  post- 
master of  Allentown  for  three  terms.  Upon  his  death  in  the  fall 
of  1893,  Mrs.  Iredell  continued  the  publication  of  these  papers 
with  much  success  until  her  death  Feburary  22,  1907.  She  left 
three  sons,  a  daughter  and  three  grandchildren.  Mrs.  Iredell 
was  one  of  the  founders  of  Liberty  Bell  Chapter,  Daughters  of 
the  American  Revolution,  in  whose  behalf  she  expended  much 
of  her  time  and  energy.  She  served  as  its  regent  and  as  a  repre- 
sentative to  the  State  and  National  Congresses  of  the  organiza- 
tion. The  placing  of  bronze  tablets  on  the  fronts  of  Zion's 
Reformed  Church  and  the  Court  House  commemorative  of  the 
hiding  of  the  Liberty  and  Christ  Church  Bells  beneath  the  church 
floor  in  1777  and  of  the  services  of  the  Allentown  soldiers  in  the 
Spanish  American  War  in  1898  was  due  largely  to  her  efforts. 

Henry  A.  SchulER. 

Born  July  12,  1857,  near  Treichlersville,  Berks  county,  the 
only  child  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  Schuler,  Henry  A.  Schuler 
died  in  this  city  January  14,  1908,  after  a  brief  illness  with  pneu- 
monia. Educated  in  the  public  schools,  Mr.  Schuler  studied 
later  at  the  State  Normal  Schools  at  Kutztown  and  Millersville. 
He  taught  school  in  Hampton  township  and  near  Treichlersville. 
He  assisted  in  the  formation  of  the  Hereford  Debating  Club  and 


224 

the  Hereford  Literary  Society,  continuing  an  active  member 
until  he  moved  to  Allentown  in  1881  to  become  associate  editor 
of  the  Welt  Bote,  Friedens  Bote  and  Lecha  Bote,  being  promoted 
later  to  the  editorship.  He  resigned  in  1905,  and  in  1906,  with 
H.  W.  Kriebel,  of  East  Greenville,  he  bought  the  Pennsylvania 
German  Magazine  from  Rev.  Dr.  Philip  C.  Croll,  of  Lebanon. 
They  changed  it  from  a  quarterly  to  a  monthly,  improved  and 
enlarged  it  and  with  Mr.  Schuler  as  its  editor  the  magazine  was 
put  upon  a  new  plane.  Mr.  Schuler  was  a  member  of  the  Lehigh 
County  Historical  Society  and  of  the  Pennsylvania  German 
Society.  In  1904  he  published  "The  History  of  the  Hereford 
Literary  Society."  He  was  a  studious  scholar,  a  proficient  lin- 
guist, an  omnivorous  reader  and  an  able  translator.  He  was 
versed  in  English,  German,  Greek,  Latin,  Hebrew,  French,  Italian 
and  Spanish.  He  also  did  editorial  work  for  dictionaries  and 
encyclopedias.  Mr.  Schuler  was  a  widower,  his  wife  whose 
maiden  name  was  Miss  Sallie  Griesemer,  having  preceded  him  in 
death  in  1891.  Mr.  Schuler  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Lehigh 
County  Historical  Society,  the  minutes  sho^ving  that  he  attended 
the  second  meeting,  June  15,  1904. 

Philip  W.  Flores. 

Philip  Wetzel  Flores,  the  first  vice-president  of  the  Lehigh 
County  Historical  Society,  was  found  dead  in  the  library  connected 
with  his  home  at  Dillingersville,  February  24th,  1908.  He  was 
stricken  with  apoplexy  during  the  night.  ^Jr.  Flores  was  descended 
from  Michael  Flores,  who  emigrated  from  \\'ittemberg,  Germany, 
about  1 740,  settling  in  the  neighborhood  of  Dillingersville,  where 
he  was  a  farmer  and  blacksmith,  and  obtained  a  large  tract  of 
land.  His  son,  John  Michael  Flores,  was  a  soldier  in  the  Revolu- 
tionary War.  The  latter 's  son,  Peter,  who  died  October  i,  1865, 
was  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch. 

Philip  W.  Flores  was  born  at  the  old  homestead  August  9, 
1832.  He  was  a  farmer,  kept  the  village  store  and  was  appointed 
postmaster  on  October  17,  1865,  serving  for  a  number  of  years. 
In  October,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  176th  Pennsylvania  A'olunteer 
Militia,  was  commissioned  Second  Lieutenant  of  Company  K., 
December  6,  1862,  and  was  in  service  in  Mrginia,  North  Carolina 
and  South  Carolina  for  over  ten  months.  He  was  honorably 
discharged  August  18,  1863.  Follo\^'ing  this  service  he  was 
Assistant  Assessor  of  the  United  States  Internal  Revenue  for 
Upper  Saucon,  Upper  Milford  and  Lower  Milford  townships  for 
two  and  a  half  years. 

Mr.  Flores  was  a  very  well  read  man  and  was  especially  pro- 
ficient in  local  history.  He  devoted  much  time  to  studying  and 
writing  the  history  of  the  lower  end  of  Lehigh  county,  especially 
of  the  Milfords,  in  which   he  was  a  recognized  authority.     He 


225    • 

contributed  historical  articles  to  newspapers  and  magazines  and 
was  for  forty  years  a  correspondent  for  the  Allentown  Friedens- 
bote.  He  was  the  author  of  the  history  of  Upper  and  Lower 
Milford  Townships  in  the  History  of  Lehigh  and  Carbon  Counties, 
and  of  several  chapters  in  the  "Skizzen  aus  dem  Lecha  Thale." 
He  was  one  of  the  organizers  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical 
Society,  having  been  present  at  the  time  the  organization  was 
effected. 

Mr.  Flores  was  a  widower,  and  left  one  son  and  three  daugh- 
ters. He  was  a  member  of  the  Reformed  congregation  at  Zions- 
ville,  of  E.  B.  Young  Post,  No.  87,  G.  A.  R.,  of  Allentown,  of 
Coopersburg  Lodge,  No.  390,  I.  O.  O.  F.  and  of  the  Pennsylvania 
German  Society. 

Mr.  Flores  was  buried  with  military  and  Grand  Army  honors, 
February  29th,  in  the  burial  ground  connected  with  the  Zionsville 
Reformed  Church. 


Charter  of  the   Lehigh  County 
Historical  Society. 


In  the  Court  of  Common  PIvEas  of  Lehigh  County. 

To  the  Honorable  Frank  M.  Trexler,  President  Judge  of  said  Court : 
Whereas,  we  the  undersigned,  citizens  of  the  Commonwealth 
of  Pennsylvania,  whose  names  are  subscribed  to  this  charter  or 
certificate  of  incorporation,  have  associated  ourselves  together 
for  the  purposes  and  upon  the  terms  and  by  the  name  herein 
stated,  under  the  provisions  of  an  Act  of  the  General  Assembly 
of  the  Commonwealth  of  Pennsylvania,  entitled  "An  Act  to  pro- 
vide for  the  Incorporation  and  regulation  of  certain  corporations," 
approved  the  29th  day  of  April,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one 
thousand  eight  hundred  and  seventy-four,  and  the  several  supple- 
ments thereto,  we  do  therefore  and  hereby  certify  that: 

1.  The  name  of  the  corporation  is  the  "Lehigh  County 
Historical  Society." 

2.  The  purpose  for  which  this  corporation  is  formed  is  the 
support  of  an  educational  undertaking  by  promoting  the  discovery, 
collection,  preservation  and  publication  of  the  history,  historical 
records  and  data  of  and  relating  to  Lehigh  County,  the  marking 
of  such  places  of  historical  interest  as  may  be  located  in  the  county, 
the  collection  and  preservation  of  books,  newspapers,  pamphlets, 
maps,  genealogies,  portraits,  paintings,  relics,  engravings,  manu- 
scripts, letters,  journals  and  any  and  all  material  which  may 
establish  or  illustrate  such  history,  the  growth  and  progress  of 
population,  wealth,  education,  agriculture,  arts,  manufactures 
and  commerce  in  this  county. 

3.  The  business  of  the  corporation  is  to  be  transacted  in  the 
City  of  Allentown. 

4.  The  corporation  shall  have  perpetual  succession  and 
existence  by  its  corporate  name. 

5.  There  is  no  capital  stock,  nor  are  there  any  shares  of 
stock.    The  names  and  residences  of  the  subscribers  appear  below.' 

6.  The  corporation  is  to  be  managed  by  an  Executive 
Committee  of  nine,  including  a  president,  a  vice-president,  secre- 
tary and  treasurer,  and  the  names  and  residences  of  those  who 
are  chosen  for  the  first  year  are  as  follows : 

President,  George  T.  Ettinger .  .Allentown,  Pa. 

Vice-President,  David  McKenna Slatington,  Pa. 

Secretary,  Charles  R.  Roberts Allentown,  Pa. 

Treasurer,  Leo  Wise Allentown,  Pa. 


227 

Executive  Committee. 
The  four  officers  as  above  and 

S.  E.  OcHSKNFORD Allentown,  Pa. 

Frank  M.  TrexlER Allentown,  Pa. 

David  A.   Mii.i,er .Allentown,  Pa. 

Philip  W.   FlorKS Dillingersville,  Pa. 

O.  P.  Knauss Macungie,  Pa. 

7.  The  corporation  has  no  capital  stock.  Fees  for  member- 
ship and  annual  dues  from  members  will  be  assessed  as  the  cor- 
poration by  its  by-laws  may  determine  which  fees  and  dues  will 
be  applied  to  promoting  the  purposes  for  which  the  corporation 
is  formed. 

In  witness  thereof,  we  have  hereunto  set  our  hand  and  seals 
this  nth  day  of  May,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  nine 
hundred  and  seven. 

George  T.  Ettinger,  Allentown,  Pa. 

CharIvKS  R.  Roberts,  Allentown,  Pa. 

S.  E.  OcHSBNFORD,  Allentown,  Pa. 

Leo  Wise,  Allentown,  Pa. 

O.  P.  Knauss,  Macungie,  Pa. 

James  J.  Hauser,  Allentown  Pa. 

J.  D.  SCHiNDEL,  Allentown,  Pa. 

Wm.  L.  Hartman,  Allentown,  Pa. 

In  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  of  Lehigh  County. 

In  the  matter  of  the  incorporation  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical 

Society. 

And  Now,  to  wit:  July  5,  1907,  the  foregoing  certificate  of 
incorporation  having  been  filed  in  the  Prothonotary's  office  of 
the  said  Court  since  the  13th  day  of  May,  A.  D.  1907,  as  appears 
thereon  and  due  proof  of  publication  having  been  presented  to 
the  Court  and  having  perused  and  examined  the  instrument  and 
finding  the  same  to  be  in  proper  form  and  within  the  specified 
purpose  of  corporations  of  the  First  Class  according  to  Section  2 
of  the  Act  of  Assembly  of  April  29,  1874,  ^.nd  that  said  purposes  are 
lawful  and  not  injurious  to  the  community,  it  is  ordered  and 
decreed  that  the  same  be  approved  and  upon  recording  of  the" 
said  charter  and  its  endorsement  and  this  order,  in  the  office  for 
the  Recording  of  Deeds,  etc.,  at  Allentown. 

The  subscribers  thereto  and  their  associate  shall  henceforth 
be  a  corporation  for  the  purposes  and  upon  the  terms  and  under 
the  name  therein  stated. 

By  the  court, 

Horace  Heydt, 
President  Judge  ^6th  Judicial  District, 
specially  presiding. 


228 

Roll  of  Members. 

Founders. 

Charles  R.  Roberts Allentown,  Pa. 

George  T.  Ettinger,  Ph.  D Allentown,  Pa. 

PhiHp  N.  Flores  (Died  Feb.  24,  1908) Dillingersville,  Pa. 

Leo  Wise Allentown,  Pa. 

Rev.  S.  E.  Ochsenford,  D.  D Allentown,  Pa. 

David  A.  Miller Allentown,  Pa. 

Hon.   Frank  M.  Trexler Allentown,  Pa. 

Col.  Samuel  D.  Lehr .Allentown,  Pa. 

Henry  A.  Schuler    (Died  Jan.   14,  1908) Allentown,  Pa. 

William  L.  Hartman Allentown,  Pa. 

Clement  A.   Marks Allentown,  Pa. 

William  F.   Roth Allentown,  Pa. 

James  J.   Hauser Macungie,  Pa. 

O.  P.  Knauss Macungie,  Pa. 

Col.  H.  C.  Trexler Allentown,  Pa. 

Miss  Lena  G.  Roth Allentown,  Pa. 

Henry  A.  Kline    (Died  Oct.  7,  1906) Allentown,  Pa. 

Charter  Members,  Elected  January  13,  1906. 

James  O.  Knauss Harrisburg,  Pa. 

Robert  C.  Horn Allentown,  Pa. 

D.  W.  McFetridge Allentown,  Pa. 

Dr.  Wm.  J.  Hertz Allentown,  Pa. 

Dr.  P.  J.  Kress Allentown,  Pa. 

D.    G.    Dery Catasauqua,  Pa. 

David    McKenna Slatington,  Pa. 

Rev.  J.  W.  Mattern Allentown,  Pa. 

Maj.   Thomas   Daugherty Allentown,  Pa. 

Alfred  F.  Berlin Allentown,  Pa. 

Frank   Jacobs Allentown,  Pa. 

Mrs.  J.  C.  W.  Dorney Allentown,  Pa. 

Rev.  S.  A.  B.  Stopp Allentown,  Pa. 

Mrs.   Annie   E.    Leisenring .   Allentown,  Pa. 

Mrs.  Matilda  G.  Iredell    (Died  Feb.    22,  1907) ..   Allentown,  Pa. 

Rev.  C.  J.  Cooper,   D.   D Allentown,  Pa. 

Rev.  H.  M.  J.  Klein r Allentown,  Pa. 

William  M.  Gehman Macungie,  Pa. 

Benjamin    F.    Cressman Morgantown,  Pa. 

A.  A.  Kern Slatington,  Pa. 

Harold  W.  Pretz Allentown,  Pa. 

Edwin  G.  Trexler Allentown,  Pa. 

Thomas  P.  Wenner Allentown,  Pa. 

Thomas  K.  Home Allentown,  Pa. 

Henry  S.  Moyer Allentown,  Pa. 

Rev.  Thomas  H.  Krick Coplay,  Pa. 


229 

James  L.   Schaadt Allentown,  Pa. 

Edward   H.    Reninger Allentown,  Pa. 

Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel,  D.  D Allentown,  Pa. 

Elected  Members. 

Alex,  S.  Shimer    (Died    Oct.  5,  1906) Allentown,  Pa. 

Mrs.  Abraham  Samuels Allentown,  Pa. 

Milton  P.  Schantz Allentown,  Pa. 

Frank  W.  Koch    (Died  July  i,   1906) Allentown,  Pa. 

Ira  T.  Erdman Allentown,  Pa. 

A.  J.   Ziegler Allentown,  Pa. 

H.  B.  Koch Allentown,  Pa. 

Rev.  J.  A.  W.  Haas,  D.  D Allentown,  Pa. 

Edw.  A.  Soleliac Allentown,  Pa. 

Dr.  H.  S.  Seip :  .  .  .Allentown,  Pa. 

Frank  D.  Bittner Allentown,  Pa. 

Thos.  J.  Koch Allentown,  Pa. 

Dr.  H.  A.  Fehr Allentown,  Pa. 

Edward  M.  Young Allentown,  Pa. 

Peter  W.   Leisenring Allentown,  Pa. 

Miss  Elizabeth  W.  Bowen Allentown,  Pa. 

Jesse  R.  Brown Pittsburg,  Pa. 

George  R.  Seiffert Philadelphia,  Pa. 

George  G.   Blumer Allentown,  Pa. 

Miss   Emma   Deshler Allentown,  Pa. 

Rev.  Jere.  J.  Schindel Allentown,  Pa. 

Thomas  A.  J.  Schadt Cementon,  Pa. 

Rev.   George    P.   Stem Siegfried,  Pa. 

Rev.  F.  J.  F.  Schantz,  D.  D.   (Died  Jan.  19,  1907)  Myerstown,  Pa. 

Lewis  L.   Anewalt . Allentown,  Pa. 

Ray  S.  Brown Allentown,  Pa. 

George  H.  Berkemeyer Allentown,  Pa. 

Eugene  T.  Quinn Allentown,  Pa. 

L.  J.  H.  Grossart •.  .  .  Allentown,  Pa. 

Reuben  J.   Butz Allentown,  Pa. 

Dr.  Frank  J.  Slough Allentown,  Pa. 

Miss   Katie   Faust Macungie,  Pa. 

Harvey  Walbert Trexlertown,  Pa. 

Francis  M.  Berkemeyer Allentown,  Pa. 

Rev.  J.  A.  Scheffer Allentown,  Pa. 

Alvin  P.  Zellner Allentown,  Pa. 

Rev.  J.  C.  Rausch Allentown,  Pa. 

Rev.  W.  D.  C.  Keiter Bethlehem,  Pa. 

Claude  T.   Reno ....... Allentown,  Pa. 

George  F.  Knerr Allentown,  Pa. 

Chas.  O.  Hunsicker Allentown,  Pa. 

Henry  E.  Peters Allentown,  Pa. 

Martin    Klingler Allentown,  Pa. 


230 

Hon.  Harry  G.  Stiles .  Allentown,  Pa. 

Oliver  A.  lobst Allentown,  Pa. 

R.  W.   lobst Emaus,  Pa. 

Ralph  R.   Metzger Allentown,  Pa. 

Miss  Minnie  F.  Mickley Washington,  D.  C. 

Mrs.  Joseph  P.  Mickley Washington,  D.  C. 

Mrs.  H.  Martyn  Chance Philadelphia,  Pa. 

James   A.    Miller New  Tripoli,  Pa. 

A.  R.  Weaver Emaus,  Pa. 

Rev.  Simon  Sipple Macungie,  Pa. 

Alfred  G.  Saeger Allentown,  Pa. 

Mrs.  Ella  T.  Saeger Allentown,  Pa. 

Henry  L.  School Allentown,  Pa. 

Hon.  C.  D.  Schaeffer Allentown,  Pa. 

Mrs.  Alex.  S.  Shimer Allentown,  Pa. 

Hon.  W.  N.  Decker Macungie,  Pa. 

Dr.  Edgar  D.  Shimer Jamaica,  N.  Y. 

Rev.  H.  H.  Romig Allentown,  Pa. 

Mrs.  Harvey  G.  Harlacher Allentown,  Pa. 

Prof.  John  I.  Romig Allentown,  Pa. 

Albert  S.  Weiler Allentown,  Pa. 

Dr.  Chas.  O.  Henry Allentown.  Pa. 

Mrs.  Anna  A.  Mauser Allentown,  Pa. 

G.  Thos.  Leisenring Allentown,  Pa. 

Frank  S.  Hartman Allentown,  Pa. 

Dr.  Henry  D.  Jordan Allentown,  Pa. 

James   B.    Laux .  New  York,  N.  Y. 

Joseph  B.  Lewis Allentown,  Pa. 

Mrs.  Elenora  S.  Lewis Allentown,  Pa. 

Adam  E.  Bittner .  Allentown,  Pa. 

Harvey  J.  Wieand Allentown,  Pa. 

Henry  W.  Blose Slatedale,  Pa. 

James   S.    Peter Slatington,  Pa. 

Landes  F.   Miller.^ Allentown,  Pa. 

Miss  Louise  A.  Leisenring Allentown,  Pa. 

George  W.  Shoemaker Allentown,  Pa. 

Charles  Deshler New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 

William  F.  Schlechter.  . Allentown,  Pa. 

Franklin  J.  Newhard Allentown,  Pa. 

G.    E.   Oswald Hqkendauqua,  Pa. 

Mrs.  Mary  L.  Romig Allentown,  Pa. 

Life  Member. 
Miss.  C.  Rosa  Troxell Wilkesbarre,  Pa. 

Honorary  Members. 

John  W.  Jordan,  L.   L.   D Philadelphia,  Pa. 

Luther  R.  Kelker Harrisburg,  Pa. 


231 

Benjamin  F.  Trexler Allentown,  Pa. 

Hon.  H.  S.  Funk.  .  .  .• Springtown,  Pa. 

Howard    S.    Kriebel East  Greenville,  Pa. 

Officers. 
President,  George  T.  Ettinger,  Ph.  D. 
Vice-President,  David  McKenna. 
Secretary,  Charles  R.  Roberts. 
Treasurer,  Leo  Wise,  Esq. 

Executive  Committee. 
The   President,   Vice-President,   Secretary,   Treasurer,    Hon. 
F.  M.  Trexler,  Rev.  S.  E.  Ochsenford,  D.  D.,  Rev.  C.  J.  Cooper, 
D.  D.,  O.  P.  Knauss  and  Wm.  L.  Hartman. 


I, ,of .., 

give,    devise   and    bequeath    to   The    Lehigh    County    Historical 

Society  the  sum  of dollars, 

to  be  used 

WITNESSES :  Signed 


I, ,  of 

give  and  donate  to  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society  the 
following  articles,  to  be  deposited  in  said  society's  library  and 


museum 


I  hereby  apply  for  life  membership  in  the  Lehigh  County 
Historical  Society  and  enclose  the  sum  of  twenty-five  dollars, 
the  requisite  amount  according  to  the  constitution  of  said  society, 
this  membership  exempting  me  from  all  future  dues  and  entitling 
me  to  one  copy  of  all  publications  of  the  society. 


CONTENTS. 

PAGES. 

Organization,  Constitution  and  Minutes 3 — 20 

William  Allen,  the  Founder  of  Allentown,  and  his  Descendants, 

by  Chas.  R.  Roberts 21 — 43 

A  Bit  of  Lehigh  County  Indian  History,  by  Alfred  F.  Berlin  .  .  44 — 49 
Sketches  of  Some  Settlers  in  Lehigh  County  Prior  to  1750,  by 

Chas.  R.  Roberts 50 — 61 

A  Few  Notes  on  the  Lenni  Lenape  or  Delaware  Tribe  of  In- 
dians, by  A.  F.  Berlin 62 — 69 

History  of  the  Reformed  Congregation  of  Egypt  Church,  by 

Chas.  R.  Roberts 70 — 100 

History  of  the  Lutheran  Congregation  of  Egypt  Church,  by 

Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel,  D.  D loi— 121 

The  Egypt  Church,  by  Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel,  D.  D 122  — 140 

The  Hampton  Furnace,  by  Henry  A.  vSchuler 141  — 152 

Allentown  and  its  Vicinity  about  Sixty  Years  ago,  by  Rev.  F. 

J.  F.  Schantz,  D.  D 153—183 

Some  Indian  History  of  the  Lehigh  Valley,  by  John  W.  Jor- 
dan, LL.  D.. 184 — 196 

Revolutionary  Patriots  of  Allentown  and  Vicinity,  by  Chas.  R. 

Roberts 197 — 204. 

The  Mayors  of  Allentown,  by  Wm.  L.  Hartman 205 — 218 

In  Memoriam 219 — 225 

Charter,  Roll  of  Members  and  Officers 226 — 231 


%:SJ^' 


PROCEEDINGS 

AND  PAPERS  READ  BEFORE  THE 

LEHIGH  COUNTY  HISTORICAL 
SOCIETY 


VOL.  11 


ALLENTOWN,  PENNA. 
1910 


PROCEEDINGS 

AND  PAPERS  READ  BEFORE  THE 

LEHIGH  COUNTY  HISTORICAL 
SOCIETY 


VOL.  11 


ALLENTOWN,  PENNA. 
1910 


PROCEEDINGS 

OF  THE  LEHIGH  COUNTY  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY.  1908-1909. 


MINUTES  OF  THIRD  ANNUAL  MEETING. 

Ai.i,ENT0WN,  Pa.,  February  7,  1908. 

A  regular  meeting  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society 
was  held  this  evening  at  No.  37  South  Seventh  Street. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 

The  following  persons  were  elected  members  of  the  society: 
Mr.  Albert  S.  Weiler,  Dr.  Charles  O.  Henry,  Mrs.  Anna  A.  Mauser, 
Mr.  G.  Thomas  Leisenring,  Mr.  Frank  S.  Hartman,  Dr.  Henry 
D.Jordan,  Mr.  Joseph  B.  Lewis,  Mrs.  Klenora  S.  Lewis,  Mr.  Adam 
K.  Bittner,  Mr.  Henry  W.  Bloss,  Mr.  James  S.  Peter,  Mr.  Harvey 
J.  Wieand,  Mr.  Landes  F.  Miller  and  Miss  Louise  A.  Leisenring. 

The  election  of  officers  for  the  ensuing  year  followed  and  the 
following  persons  were  elected:  President,  Mr.  George  T.  Ett- 
inger;  Vice-President,  Mr.  David  McKenna;  Secretary,  Mr. 
Charles  R.  Roberts;  Treasurer,  Mr.  Leo  Wise;  Members  of  Exec- 
utive Committee  for  two  years,  Mr.  O.  P.  Knauss  and  Mr. 
William  L.  Hartman. 

Announcement  was  made  of  the  death  of  Henry  A.  Schuler 
since  the  last  meeting  of  the  society  and  William  L.  Hartman  read 
biographical  sketches  of  the  deceased  members,  Mr.  Frank  W. 
Koch,  Mr.  Alex.  S.  Shimer,  Mrs.  Robert  Iredell,  Jr.,  Prof.  Henry 
A.  Kline,  Rev.  F.  J.  F.  Schantz,  D.  D.,  and  Mr.  Henry  A.  Schuler. 

The  Secretary's  report  for  the  year  was  read  and  received 
and  directed  to  be  spread  upon  the  minutes. 

Secretary's  Report. 
Receipts. 

1906  Fees  and  Dues $10.00 

1907  Fees 30.00 

1907  Dues 81 .00 

1908  Dues 1 .  00 

Life  Membership  Fee 25  .  00 

$147.00 

Balance  January  i,  1907 57-98 

Total $204 .  98 


Expenditures. 

Voucher  No.     7,  H.  H.  Knerr,  printing $  9.25 

"           "       8,  Book     "Indian    Local    Names"    pur- 
chased, $1.00,  and  postage,  .50 i .  50 

"            "       9,  H.  H.  Knerr,  printing 16. 25 

"            "     10,  Sanders  Engraving  Co 3-  19 

"           "     II,  Welt  Bote  Publishing  Co.,  blank  books,  3-55 
•'           "     12,  Federation  of  Historical  Societies,  dues, 

1 907 2  .  00 

"           "     13,  Allen  Stamp  and  Stencil  Co .45 

"           "     14,  John  A.  Heimbach,  two  frames 2.15 

"           "     15,  Expressage  and  hauling  books i  •  50 

"            "     i6,  Pa.  German  Magazine,  22  numbers....  7.00 

"            "17,  Prothonotary,  fee  for  charter 3-75 

"            "     18,  Recording  Charter 4.00 

"            "     19,  Notary  Public  Fees .75 

"            "     20,  H.  H.  Knerr,  printing 6.50 

61.84 

Balance  on  hand $^A2>  ■  ^4 

Active  members  elected  in  1907 39 

Honorary  members  elected  in  1907 2 

Total 41 

Total  active  members  elected 112 

Total  honorary  members  elected 5 

Total 117 

Deceased 6 

Resigned i 

—  7 

Total  present  membership no 

Donations  received  in  year  1907:  28  bound  volumes,  14  pamphlets. 
2  pictures  and  2  maps. 

Total  owned  by  the  society:  Bound  volumes,  98;  pamphlets,  140; 
portraits,  6;  facsimiles,  4;  pictures,  3;  maps,  2;  draft,  i;  blue  print,  i; 
proclamation,  i;  newspapers,  5. 

Charles  R.  Roberts, 

Secretary. 

The  report  of  the  Treasurer  for  the  years  1906  and  1907  was 
read  and  received  and  directed  to  be  spread  upon  the  minutes. 


Treasurer's  Report. 

Leo  Wise,  Treasurer,  in  account  with  the  Lehigh  County  Historical 
Society. 

Dr. 

The  Accountant  charges  himself  with  the  following  accounts  received 
from  the  Secretary,  Charles  R.  Roberts: 

August  6,  1906 $52  .47 

August  31,  1906 40.00 

January  29,  1907 40.00 

July  12,  1907 31.00 

December  6,  1907 40.  75 

January  30,  1908 52  .  25 

$256.47 

Cr. 

The    Treasurer   claims   credit    for    the    following    amounts    paid    by 
voucher,  duly  issued  by  the  proper  officers  of  the  society: 

May  29,  1906,  H.  H.  Knerr,  printing $     8 .  35 

August  24,  1906,  Call  Publishing  Co.,  City 32  .00 

August  24,  1906,  Charles  R.  Roberts,  sundries 8.89 

August  24,  1906,  S.  P.  Heilman,  dues,  1906 i  .00 

August  24,  1906,  H.  H.  Knerr,  printing i .  25 

January  22,  1907,  C.  R.  Roberts,  sundries i .  50 

January  22,  1907,  H.  H.  Knerr,  printing 9.  25 

May  13,  1907,  H.  H.  Knerr,  printing 16.25 

May  13,  1907,  Sanders  Engraving  Co.,  cuts 3- 19 

May  13,  1907,  Welt  Bote  Publishing  Co.,  blank  books 3.55 

May  13,  1907,  S.  P.  Heilman,  Secretary  Pennsylvania  Federa- 
tion of  Historical  Societies,  dues,  1907 2  .00 

May  13,  1907,  Allen  Stamp  and  Stencil  Co.,  stamps .45 

May  13,  1907,  John  A.  Heimbach,  frames 2.15 

May  13,  1907,  Charles  R.  Roberts,  expressage i  .50 

May  13,  1907,  H.  A.  Schuler,  Pennsylvania  German  Magazine,  7.00 

August  13,  1907,    George   G.    Blumer,    Prothonotary's  cost  of 

obtaining  charter 3-75 

August    13,     1907,    David    Davis,    Recorder's    cost    recording 

charter 4 .  00 

August  13,  1907,    Mary   E.   Crowley,     taking    acknowledgment 

for  charter .75 

October  23,  1907,  H.  H.  Knerr,  printing 6.50 

Balance  in  the  hands  of  the  Treasurer,  February  6,  1908  .  .         143.  14 

$256.47 
Leo  Wise, 

Treasurer. 
Note. — As  this  is  the  first  report  made  by  the  Treasurer,  it  comprises 
all  receipts  and  all  payments  made  since  the  founding  of  the  society. 


The  Secretary  reported  the  following  donations : 

By  Hon.  Frank  M.  Trexler:  Vol.  i6,  Proceedings  of  the 
Pennsylvania  German  Society. 

By  Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel,  D.  D. :  Map  of  Lehigh  County,  by 
G.  C.  Aschbach,  1862. 

By  James  B.  Laux,  New  York,  N.  Y. :  The  Huguenot 
Element  in  Pennsylvania,  by  James  B.  Laux. 

By  John  W.  Jordan,  LL.  D. :  Washington's  Farewell  Address 
in  German. 

Received  by  exchange: 

From  Smithsonian  Institution:  Report  of  the  Smithsonian 
Institution  for  1906. 

By  Schuylkill  County  Historical  Society:  Vol.  II,  No.  i, 
1907  Proceedings. 

By  State  Library:  Laws  of  Pennsylvania,  1907;  Smull's 
Legislative  Hand  Book,  1907. 

History  of  the  124th  Pa.  Vol.  Regt. 

Proceedings  of  the  41st  Annual  Encampment  of  the  Dept. 
of  Pa.,  G.  A.  R.,  at  Easton,  1907. 

Acquired  by  purchase : 

30,000  Names  of  Immigrants,  by  I.  D.  Rupp;  Reprint  by 
Leary,  Stuart  &  Co. 

Reminiscences  of  George  LaBar,  Philadelphia,  1870. 

Pennsylvania  German  Magazine,  Vols,  i  to  8. 

The  Secretary  announced  the  presentation  to  the  society  by 
Mrs.  Annie  E.  Leisenring  of  a  gavel  made  of  oak  and  hickory 
taken  from  a  settee  formerly  owned  by  the  Allen  and  Livingston 
families,  of  Trout  Hall.  It  became  the  property  of  the  Seagreaves 
family,  from  whom  it  descended  to  the  Leisenring  family. 

The  thanks  of  the  society  were  voted  to  Mrs.  Leisenring  and 
the  donors  of  the  various  articles.^ 

The  President  appointed  the  following  standing  committees 
for  the  year : 

Necrology — ^Mr.  William  L.  Hartman,  Chairman;  Mr.  David 
A.  Miller,  Mr.  William  F.  Roth. 

Manuscripts,  Relics,  Curios  and  Antiquities — ^Mrs.  Annie  E. 
Leisenring,  Chairman;  Mr.  William  M.  Gehman,  Mr.  Thomas 
A.  J.  Schaadt. 

Pictures,  Photographs  and  Paintings — ^Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel, 
D.  D.,  Chairman;  Mr.  Frank  D.  Bittner,  Mr.  Henry  S.  Moyer. 

Rev.  Dr.  J.  A.  W.  Haas,  President  of  Muhlenberg  College, 
then  delivered  a  most  admirable  and  instructive  address  to  the 
society  on  "What  Local  History  Contributes  to  General  History." 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  Dr.  Haas  was  then  passed. 

There  being  no  further  business  the  meeting  adjourned. 

Chari^Es  R.  Roberts, 

Secretary. 


MINUTES  OF  MAY  MEETING,  1908. 

AlIvEntown,  Pa.,  May  9,  1908. 

A  regular  meeting  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society 
was  held  this  afternoon  at  No.  37  South  Seventh  Street,  in  the 
rooms  of  the  Allentown  Oratorio  Society. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 

The  following  persons  were  elected  to  membership:  Mr. 
George  W.  Shoemaker,  Mr.  WilHam  F.  Schlechter,  Mr.  Frank  J. 
Newhard  and  Mrs.  Mary  L.  Romig,  of  Allentown;  Mr.  Charles 
Deshler,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  and  Mr.  G.  E.  Oswald,  Hoken- 
dauqua,  Pa. 

The  following  donations  were  reported : 

By  Miss  C.  Rosa  Troxell,  of  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.:  A  bronze 
medal  issued  by  the  Wyoming  Historical  and  Geological  Society 
in  commemoration  of  its  50th  Anniversary  and  of  the  Centennial 
of  the  first  use  of  Wyoming  coal. 

By  Hon.  Frank  M.  Trexler:  History  of  Fries'  Rebellion,  by 
Gen.  W.  H.  H.  Davis. 

By  Henry  S.  Moyer,  Executor  of  Henry  A.  Schuler  Estate: 
Seven  Volumes  Pennsylvania  German  Society  Publications. 

By  Mr.  O.  C.  Dorney:  Allentown  Illustrated;  Issued  by 
Chamber  of  Commerce. 

By  Rev.  C.  J.  Cooper,  D.  D.:  History  of  Northampton 
County,  by  Capt.  F.  Ellis,  1877. 

By  Fred.  W.  Reichard:  History  of  the  United  States,  by 
Joseph  C.  Martindale,  1866. 

Wells  Lawyer  and  Form  Book. 

By  Benjamin  F.  Trexler:  History  of  the  Lehigh  Valley, 
by  M.  S.  Henry,  i860. 

By  H.  W.  Kriebel:     The  Pennsylvania  German  Magazine. 

By  Mrs.  G.  A.  Aschbach:  Map  of  Allentown,  1873,  by  G.  A. 
Aschbach. 

By  James  J.  Hauser:     Eulogy  on  William  R.  King,  1854. 

Received  by  exchange : 

Year  Book  of  the  Pennsylvania  Society  of  New  York  for  1908. 

By  purchase : 

The  German  Element  of  the  Shenandoah  Valley  of  Virginia, 
by  J.  W.  Wayland,  Ph.  D.,  1907. 

The  Cumberland  Blue  Book,  by  J.  Zeamer. 

A  History  of  Bethlehem,  Pa.,  1742-1892,  by  Bishop  Joseph 
M.  Levering,  1903. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  the  donors  of  the  gifts. 

On  motion  of  Messrs.  Schaeffer  and  School,  it  was  resolved 
that  the  society  hold  a  summer  meeting  at  Macungie. 

On   motion   the    Executive   Committee    was    authorized   to 


8 

request  the  Park  Commission  to  permit  the  society  to  occupy 
the  building  known  as  "Trout  Hall,"  at  Fourth  and  Walnut 
Streets. 

The  motion  was  adopted  that  the  society  extend  its  thanks 
to  the  city  authorities  for  purchasing  the  historic  site  of  old 
Muhlenberg  College  for  use  as  a  park. 

Mr.  Charles  R.  Roberts  read  a  paper  entitled  "Notable 
Events  in  the  Social  Life  of  Allentown  in  the  Eighteenth  Century," 
and  Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel's  paper  on  "The  Egypt  Church,"  was 
read  by  President  Ettinger. 

A  vote  of  thanks  was  passed  to  the  writers  and  readers  of 
the  papers. 

On  motion  the  society  adjourned. 

Charles  R.  Roberts, 

Secretary. 


MINUTES  OF  AUGUST  MEETING.  1908. 

Macungie,  Pa.,  August  i,  1908. 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society 
was  held  this  afternopn  in  Solomon's  Reformed  Church.  The 
society  was  welcomed  by  Dr.  W.  B.  Erdman  and  President  George 
T.  Ettinger  responded. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 

The  following  persons  were  elected  members  of  the  society: 
Hon.  John  O.  Sheatz,  State  Treasurer,  Harrisburg;  Mrs.  Margaret 
S.  Hunsicker,  Norristown;  Mr.  William  J.  Heller,  Easton,  Pa.; 
Rev.  Frank  P.  Laros,  Alburtis;  Mrs.  Lyman  H.  Howe,  Wilkes- 
Barre ;  Mr.  Alfred  L.  Reichenbach  and  Mr.  C.  L.  Freeman,  of  Al- 
lentown. 

Announcement  was  made  of  the  death  of  two  members, 
Mr.  A.  A.  Kern,  of  Slatington,  and  Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel,  D.  D., 
of  Allentown. 

The  President  announced  that  the  Park  Commission  appeared 
to  be  favorable  to  the  occupancy  of  the  "  Old  Trout  Hall "  building 
on  the  former  Muhlenberg  College  site. 

The  following  donations  were  announced : 

Minutes  and  Proceedings  of  the  First  Reunion  of  the  Trexler 
Family,  by  Claude  T.  Reno,  Secretary. 

Easton's  flag  of  the  Revolution,  by  William  J.  Heller. 

An  iron  plate  from  a  fireplace  of  a  house  at  Catasauqua, 
built  by  George  Taylor,  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence 
from  Northampton  County,  with  date  1768  and  initials  G.  T., 
by  Dr.  Charles  Milson. 

By  John  W.  Jordan,  LL.  D.,  Librarian  of  the  Historical 
Society  of  Pennsylvania:  Three  photographs  of  original  papers 
with    signatures   of    Benjamin   Franklin  and  his  wife,  Deborah; 


The  Moravian  of  January  7,  1791,  containing  an  account  of 
William  Edmonds;  D'lvernois  on  the  Downfall  of  Switzerland, 
1798;  Kin  Erustlicher  Ruf  an  die  Deutchen  in  Pennsylvanian, 
Lancaster;  Heckewelder's  Journal,  1791,  by  Dr.  Jordan;  Spangen- 
berg's  Notes  of  Travel  to  Onondaga  in  1745,  by  Dr.  Jordan; 
James  Burnsides,  of  Northampton  County,  by  Dr.  Jordan;  The 
Bethlehem  Ferry,  1743- 1794,  by  Dr.  Jordan;  Extracts  from  the 
Journal  of  Rev.  James  Sproat,  Hospital  Chaplain,  1778,  by 
Dr.  Jordan;  Oration  on  Battle  of  Brandywine,  by  Frederick 
D.  Stone. 

By  Miss  Minnie  F.  Mickley:  The  Borough  Town  of  West 
Chester,  an  address  by  Fordham  Morris,  1896;  Incidents  of 
the  Revolution  in  West  Chester,  preceding  the  Battle  of  White 
Plains,  by  Frederick  W.  Jackson;  Poverty  and  Patriotism  of 
the  Neutral  Grounds,  by  J.  C.  L.  Hamilton. 

Issues  of  the  Press  of  Pennsylvania,  1685- 1784,  by  Charles  R. 
Hildeburn;  2  volumes,  516  pages,  Philadelphia,  1885  (only  300 
copies  printed  of  which  this  is  No.  162),  by  Benjamin  F.  Trexler. 

The  following  were  received  by  exchange : 

The  Story  of  the  48th  Pa.  Vol.  Infantry;  Report  of  the  State 
Librarian,  1906;  Inaugural  Address  of  the  Governor,  1907; 
Myron  Watson  Memorial.    From  the  Pennsylvania  State  Library. 

Proceedings  of  the  Pennsylvania  Federation  of  Historical 
Societies,  January  2,  1908. 

A  Decade  of  the  Kittochtinny  Historical  Society,  of  Cham- 
bersburg,  Pa. 

Bulletin  of  the  Chester  County  Historical  Society. 

Schuylkill  County  Historical  Society  Publications,  Vol.  II, 
No.  2. 

A  vote  of  thanks  to  the  donors  was  passed. 

An  invitation  was  extended  to  the  society  by  Mrs.  Joseph 
P.  Mickley  to  meet  in  September  at  her  home  in  Mickley's. 

The  invitation  was  received  with  thanks  and  referred  to  the 
Executive  Committee  with  power  to  act. 

The  completion  of  Vol.  I  was  announced  and  a  voucher  of 
$175.00  was  directed  to  be  drawn  in  favor  of  Berkemeyer,  Keck 
&  Co.,  in  part  payment  of  their  bill  of  $232.00. 

Rev.  Dr.  S.  E.  Ochsenford  was  appointed  Chairman  of  the 
Committee  on  Pictures,  Photographs  and  Paintings. 

A  paper  on  "The  History  of  Solomon's  Reformed  Church," 
was  read  by  Mr.  O.  P.  Knauss,  and  a  paper  on  "Millerstown  in 
the  Fries  Rebellion,"  was  read  by  Mr.  James  J.  Hauser. 

Discussion  followed  and  a  vote  of  thanks  to  the  church 
authorities  and  to  the  readers  of  the  papers  was  passed. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned. 

Charles  R.  Roberts, 

Secretary. 


lO 


MINUTES  OF  OCTOBER  MEETING,  1908. 

MickIvEy's,  Pa.,  October  3,  1908. 

A  regular  meeting  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society 
was  held  this  afternoon  in  the  chapel  of  the  church  at  Mickley's, 
Whitehall  township. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 

The  following  persons  were  elected  to  membership:  Rev. 
George  M.  Smith,  New  Tripoli,  Pa. ;  Rev.  John  Baer  Stoudt, 
Kmaus,  Pa.;  Howard  Weiss,  Siegfried,  Pa.;  F.  A.  R.  Baldwin, 
Esq.,  R.  F.  Stine  and  Joseph  S.  Knauss,  of  Allentown. 

The  thanks  of  the  society  were  voted  to  the  following  donors 
of  books: 

Genealogical  and  Family  History  of  the  Wyoming  and 
Lackawanna  Valleys,  Penna.,  under  the  Editorial  Supervision  of 
Rev.  Horace  E.  Hayden,  Hon.  Alfred  Hand  and  John  W.  Jordan, 
LL.  D.,  1906.     By  Miss  C.  Rosa  Troxell,  of  Wilkes-Barre. 

History  of  the  Peter  Family.  Compiled  by  W.  K.  Peter, 
1908.     By  David  A.  Miller. 

The  Crown  Inn,  1745,  by  William  C.  Reichel,  Bethlehem, 
1872.     By  Rev.  C.  J.  Cooper,  D.  D. 

Bibliography  of  Washington  County,  Washington  County 
Historical  Society,  1908.     By  Boyd  Crumrine,  Esq. 

Report  of  the  Council  to  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, May  3,  1880. 

Memorial  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania  to  the 
Board  of  Taxes  of  Philadelphia  County,  1881. 

Remember  Paoli,  by  John  O.  K.  Robarts,  1908.  By  Dr. 
John  W.  Jordan. 

Account  of  Murders  by  the  Indians  on  October  8,  1763,  by 
Joseph  J.  Mickley.     By  Miss  Minnie  F.  Mickley. 

Certificate  of  Membership  in  the  Francis  Scott  Key  Memorial. 
By  Mrs.  Joseph  P.  Mickley. 

Photographs  of  the  church  chapel  and  old  schoolhouse  at 
Mickley's.     By  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Krick. 

The  following  were  received  in  exchange : 

The  Quarto-Centennial  Celebration  of  the  Presidency  of 
James  B.  Angell.  Memorial  Services  and  Addresses  on  the 
Lives  of  Professors.     From  the  University  of  Michigan. 

Hazard's  Register  of  Pennsylvania,  Vols.  3  and  4,  1829,  5 
and  6,  1830,  9  and  10,  1832,  11  and  12,  1833;  Philadelphia  and 
Its  Environs;  Pictorial  History  of  the  United  States,  by  John 
Frost,  Vol.  I,  Philadelphia,  1844.     From  the  Library  of  Congress. 

Meyerstown,  Its  Men  and  Events  of  the  Past.  Read  before 
the  Lebanon  County  Historical  Society  by  Rev.  F.  J.  F.  Schantz. 
D.  D.,  on  December  28,  1906.     History  of  St.  Paul  Klopp  Re- 


II 

formed  Church,   Hamlin,   Pa.,   by  Rev.   C.   A.   Butz,  A.   M.,  of 
Meyerstown.     From  the  Lebanon  County  Historical  Society. 

Pennsylvania  Archives,  Sixth  Series,  7  volumes;  History  of 
the  63rd  Regt.  Pa.  Vols.,  1861-1865,  Pittsburgh,  1908;  Smull's 
Legislative  Hand  Book,  1908.     From  Pennsylvania  State  Library. 

The  City  of  York,  Past  and  Present;  Frederick  J.  Mel- 
sheimer,  a  Pioneer  Entomologist;  Career  of  Phineas  Davis,  the 
Noted  Inventor;  York  in  its  Relation  to  the  Revolution;  Minutes 
and  Proceedings  of  the  Historical  Society  of  York  County.  From 
George  R.  Pro  well,  of  the  York  County  Historical  Society. 

Rev.  Thomas  H.  Krick  read  an  excellent  history  of  the 
church  at  Mickley's  from  its  organization  until  the  present  time. 

Miss  Minnie  F.  Mickley  read  an  interesting  paper  on  the 
founders  of  the  church. 

After  the  meeting  the  members  were  the  guests  of  Mrs. 
Joseph  P.  Mickley  at  her  residence.  The  members  then  returned 
to  Allentown  by  automobile. 

Chari.es  R.  Roberts, 

Secretary. 


MINUTES  OF  FOURTH  ANNUAL  MEETING. 

AivivENTOWN,  Pa.,  January  23,  1909. 

The  fourth  annual  meeting  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical 
Society  was  held  this  afternoon  in  the  rooms  of  the  Allentown 
Oratorio  Society,  No.  37  South  Seventh  Street. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 

The  following  persons  were  elected  to  membership:  Mr. 
Henry  J.  Detwiller,  Hon.  H.  H.  Herbst,  M.  D.,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thomas  W.  Saeger,  Charles  D.  Weirbach  and  Mrs.  Charles  M. 
Saeger,  of  this  city;  Mrs.  Horace  Luckenbach,  of  Bethlehem,  Pa., 
and  Prof.  Edwin  M.  Fogel,  Ph.  D.,  of  Philadelphia. 

The  election  of  officers  for  the  ensuing  year  resulted  in  the 
election  of  George  T.  Ettinger,  Ph.  D.,  as  President;  William  M. 
Gehman,  Vice-President;  Charles  R.  Roberts,  Secretary;  Leo 
Wise,  Esq.,  Treasurer,  and  Hon.  Frank  M.  Trexler,  Rev.  S.  E. 
Ochsenford,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  C.  J.  Cooper,  D.  D.,  as  members  of 
the  Executive  Committee  for  two  years. 

Announcements  were  made  of  the  death  of  two  members 
since  the  last  meeting,  Vice-President  David  McKenna  and  Hon. 
H.  G.  Stiles. 

The  request  of  the  New  York  Public  Library  for  a  copy  of 
the  publication  of  the  society  was  granted. 

The  reading  of  obituaries  of  deceased  members  was  postponed 
until  next  meeting. 

The  annual  report  of  the  Secretary  was  received  and  ordered 
spread  on  the  minutes. 


12 


Secretary's  Report. 
Receipts. 

1907  Fees  and  Dues $22.00 

1908  Fees 30.00 

1908  Dues 97  .  00 

1909  Dues 3  00 

Books  Sold 4 .  00 

Total  Receipts $156.00 

Paid  to  the  Treasurer. 

July  16,  1908 $50.00 

August  3,  1908 40.00 

September  30,  1908 40.00 

November  24,  1908 16.00 

January  19,  1909 10.00 

Total $156.00 

Members  elected  and  qualified  in  1908 32 

Active  membership  January  i,  1908 105 

Total. .  .  .  .■ 137 

Deceased  in  1908 5 

Resigned  in  1908 i 

—  6 

Total  active  members 131 

Honorary  members 5 

Total  Membership 136 

Accessions  during  the  year  1908:  Bound  volumes,  42;  pamphlets, 
40;  map,  i;  photographs,  5;  medal,  i;  manuscript,  i;  plate,  i- 

Total  bound  volumes  owned  by  the  society,  140;  total  pamphlets, 
180;  portraits  and  photographs,  14,  maps,  drafts  and  blue  prints,  4. 

Charles  R.  Roberts, 

Secretary 

The  annual  report  of  the  Treasurer,  Leo  Wise,  for  the  year 
ending  January  23,  1909,  was  received  and  ordered  spread  upon 
the  minutes. 


13 

Treasurer's  Report. 
Dr. 
The  said  Treasurer  charges  himself  as  follows: 

1908,  Balance  as  per  last  report $143 .  14 

July  17,  Received  of  the  Secretary 50.00 

Aug.  4,          "              "                "         40.00 

Sept.  30,        "              "                "         40.00 

Nov.  25,        "              "                "         16.00 

1909,  Jan.  23,         "              "                "         '10.00 


$299.14 
Cr. 
The  said  Treasurer  takes  credit  for  the  following  disbursements: 
1908,  Feb.  10,     Paid  Sanders  Engraving  Co.,  Voucher  No.  21, 

three  (3)  zinc  cuts $325 

Paid  Charles  R.  Roberts,  Voucher  No.  22,  books 

purchased 3-75 

Paid  H.  H.  Knerr,  Voucher  No.  23,  200  printed 

notices 3 .  00 

"  Paid  S.  P.  Heilman,  Voucher  No.  24,  dues, 
Pennsylvania  Federation  of  Historical  Soci- 
eties, for  1 908 2  .  00 

Paid  Charles  R.  Roberts,  Voucher  No.  25,  for 

postage,  janitor  service  and  books  purchased,  8 .  00 

May  9,       Paid    Charles    R.    Roberts,    Voucher    No.    26, 
History  of  Bethlehem,  $4.00,  Oratorio  Society 
for  gas,  $1.00.  . 
"  Paid  Sanders  Engraving  Co.,  Voucher  No.  27. 

two  (2)  zinc  cuts 7  •  30 

"  Paid  H.   H.   Knerr,   Voucher  No.   28,  printing 

blanks  and  notices 8.25 

Aug.  3,      Paid  Berkemeyer,  Keck  &  Co.,  Voucher  No.  29, 

on  account  of  printing  proceedings 175 

Sept.  19,   Paid  Berkemeyer,  Keck  &  Co.,  Voucher  No.  30, 

on  account  of  printing  proceedings 25 

Paid    Charles    R.    Roberts,    Voucher    No.    31, 
postage    and    expenses    of    messengers    for 

delivering  volume  of  proceedings 6.00 

Nov.  24,    Paid  Berkemeyer,  Keck  &  Co.,  Voucher  No.  32, 

in  full  of  printing  proceedings 
Balance  in  hands  of  Treasurer 


The  thanks  of  the  society  were  passed  to  the  following  donors 
of  articles : 

Mr.  A.  L.  Reichenbach :     History  of  the  Gabel  Family. 

Miss  Minnie  F.  Mickley:  Manuscript  agreement  at  the 
building  of  a  church  at  Mickley's,  1848. 

Mr.  J.  M.  M.  Gernerd,  Muncy,  Pa. :  Heinrich  Gernerd  and  His 
Descendants,  by  J.  M.  M.  Gernerd.  Now  and  Then,  2  volumes. 
Edited  by  J.  M.  M.  Gernerd. 

Mrs."  Charles  M.  Saeger:  Dougal's  Index  Register  to  Next 
of  Kin,  Heirs  at  Law,  Etc.,  in  Great  Britain. 

John  W.  Jordan,  Lly.  D. :  Thanksgiving  Proclamation, 
1908,  by  the  Governors  of  Pennsylvania  and  Connecticut.  Proc- 
lamation on  the  Death  of  Grover  Cleveland,  by  the  Governor  of 
New  Jersey. 

Mrs.  P.  Frank  Brown:  Commission  from  Governor  Joseph 
Hiester  to  Brigadier  General  Peter  Ruch,  of  the  Second  Brigade 
of  the  Seventh  Division  of  Militia  in  the  Counties  of  Northampton, 
Pike  and  Lehigh,  August  3,  1821. 

Mr.  John  W.  Sepp:     Map  of  Allentown,  by  Jarrett,  1842. 

Mr.  D.  R.  Klein:  Volumes  of  the  London  Pictorial  News. 
History  of  Rome. 

Mr.  Philip  S.  Pretz,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. :  Map  of  Northamp- 
ton and  Lehigh  Counties,  1830.  Letter  of  Ann  Greenleaf  to 
G.  and  C.  Pretz,  dated  Philadelphia,  November  14,  1825. 

Subscriptions  to  the  Beaver  Meadow  Railroad  and  Coal 
Company,  May  16,  1831.  Order  from  Henry  King  to  Christian 
Pretz,  dated  June  5,  1848,  for  $100.00  to  the  fund  for  the  relief 
of  the  sufferers  by  fire  in  Allentown.  Annual  Announcement  of 
the  Allentown  Seminary  for  the  year  ending  September  29,  1849. 
Names  and  Signatures  of  32  scholars  of  the  Allentown  Seminary 
from  May  to  September,  1850.  Copy  of  the  Trout  Hall  Argus, 
A.  C.  Pretz,  Editor,  February  9,  1856. 

Northampton  Bank  Notes  of  $5,  $10,  $20  and  $100  denomi- 
nations.    Three-cent  Note,  November  2,  1863,  Moses  Schneck. 

Announcement  was  made  of  the  granting  by  the  Park 
Commission  of  the  request  of  the  society  to  occupy  "Trout  Hall" 
under  certain  conditions,  which  have  not  yet  been  divulged. 

Rev.  John  B.  Stoudt  then  read  a  highly  interesting  paper  on 
"Riddles  of  the  Pennsylvania  Germans,"  and  Charles  R.  Roberts 
read  a  paper  on  "Pennsylvania  Germans  in  Public  Life  During 
the  Colonial  Period."  Treasurer  Leo  Wise  read  a  newspaper 
account  of  the  first  steam  whistle  in  the  Lehigh  Valley,  which 
was  followed  by  the  reading  by  President  Ettinger  of  a  paper  by 
James  B.  Laux,  of  New  York,  entitled  "The  Palatines  of  the 
Hudson  and  Schoharie;  Their  Exodus  to  Pennsylvania." 

After  an  invitation  by  the  President  to  attend  the  Lincoln 
Memorial  Exercises  the  meeting  adjourned. 

Charles  R.  Roberts, 

Secretary. 


15 


MINUTES  OF  MAY  MEETING.  1909. 

Aivi^HNTowN,  Pa.,  May  29,  1909. 

A  regular  meeting  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society 
was  held  this  afternoon  in  the  chapel  of  the  AUentown  Preparatory 
School. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 

The  following  persons  were  elected  to  membership:  Miss 
Irene  B.  Martin,  Rev.  Augustus  Steimle,  Mr.  David  J.  Nagle  and 
Rev.  Myron  O.  Rath,  of  AUentown,  and  Mr.  Tilghman  Neimeyer, 
of  Emaus. 

The  thanks  of  the  society  were  voted  to  the  donors  of  the 
following  books : 

Catalogue  of  the  Unpublished  Revolutionary  Papers  of 
Maj.  Gen.  Edward  Hand,  1777-1784. 

The  Gift  offered  by  the  United  States  to  Gen.  Lafayette,  1779. 

Moravian  Immigration  to  Pennsylvania,  1734- 1765. 

Diary  of  Samuel  Richards,  Captain  of  Connecticut  Line, 
1775-1781.     By  John  W.  Jordan,  LL.  D. 

Das  Reich  Gottes  auf  Erden,  Sermons  by  Rev.  W.  A.  Hel- 
frich,  D.  D.     By  Miss  C.  Rosa  Troxell,  Wilkes-Barre. 

Remember  Paoli.     By  John  O.  K.  Robarts. 

Pennsylvania  at  the  Jamestown  Exposition,  1907.  Message 
of  the  Governor,  1909.  Proceedings  of  the  42nd  Annual  Encamp- 
ment of  G.  A.  R.,  at  Erie,  1908.  Pennsylvania  Archives,  Sixth 
Series,  Vols.  8  to  15.     By  Pennsylvania  State  Library. 

Copy  of  Friedensbote  of  May  3,  1822,  containing  obituary 
of  Rev.  Abraham  Blumer.     By  William  J.  Heller,  Easton,  Pa. 

The  Muncy  Valley.     By  J.  M.  M.  Gernerd. 

Copies  of  South  Bethlehem  Globe  containing  History  of 
Lower  Saucon,  1780  Assessment  List  of  Lower  Saucon,  List  of 
Justices,  Etc.     By  James  J.  Hauser. 

The  following  were  received  in  exchange : 

Kittochtinny  Historical  Society  Publication,  Chambersburg, 
Pa.,  1908. 

Annual  Report  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  1907. 

Publication  of  the  Pennsylvania  History  Club,  Vol.  I. 

Schuylkill  County  Historical  Society  Publications,  Vol.  II, 
No.  3. 

History  of  Susquehanna  County,  by  Emily  C.  Blackman, 
1873.     From  the  Susquehanna  County  Historical  Society. 

Transactions  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Berks  County, 
Vol.  II,  No.  4. 

On  motion  of  Messrs.  Hartman  and  Scheffer,  the  President 
was  instructed  to  write  to  James  O.  Knauss,  member  of  this 
society,   conveying  our  sentiments  in  view  of   his  illness,   and 


i6 

expressing  our  regret  for  his  absence  and  hope  for  his  speedy 
recovery. 

On  motion  the  President  was  authorized  to  appoint  a  com- 
mittee of  five,  including  the  President  and  Secretary,  to  arrange 
for  a  summer  meeting.  Mr.  William  L.  Hartman  read  biograph- 
ical sketches  of  members  deceased  during  the  past  year,  namely, 
David  McKenna,  A.  A.  Kern,  Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel,  D.  D.,  Hon. 
H.  G.  Stiles  and  Charles  D.  Deshler,  of  New  Brunswick,  N.  J. 

President  Ettinger  read  an  interesting  diary  of  the  late 
Christian  Pretz  containing  an  account  of  a  trip  to  Detroit,  Mich., 
and  return,  in  1826. 

After  the  meeting  the  members  were  shown  over  Trout  Hall, 
built  by  James  Allen  in  1770. 

Charles  R.  Roberts, 

Secretary. 


MINUTES  OF  AUGUST  MEETING.  1909. 

August  12,  1909. 

The  fourth  annual  outing  and  summer  meeting  of  the  Lehigh 
County  Historical  Society  was  held  this  afternoon.  The  members, 
in  tallyhos  and  teams,  proceeded  from  the  Hotel  Allen  along  the 
Wennersville  State  road  to  the  farm  of  Robert  R.  Ritter,  where 
what  remains  of  "Grouse  Hall,"  a  hunting  lodge  built  by  Lynford 
Lardner  about  1746,  was  viewed.  From  this  interesting  spot 
the  members  were  driven  to  Col.  H.  C.  Trexler's  country  home, 
along  the  Little  Cedar  Creek,  which  was  once  Mr.  Lardner's 
plantation,  "The  Grange,"  later  called  "Springwood,"  where,  on 
the  spacious  veranda  of  the  charmingly  situated  home  of  our 
host,  the  summer  meeting  was  held. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 

The  following  persons  were  elected  to  membership:  Mrs. 
Ralph  R.  Metzger,  Mrs.  J.  Frank  Stine  and  Mr.  Joseph  P.  Shimer. 

The  thanks  of  the  society  were  voted  the  donors  of  the 
following  books: 

History  of  the  York  Rifle  Company,  1775- 1908.  By  Augustus 
Loucks,  York,  Pa. 

History  of  the  Shimer  Family.     By  Joseph  P.  Shimer. 

Maladies,  Remedies  and  Physicians  of  Colonial  Days  in 
Burlington  County  and  Other  Kindred  Topics,  by  Dr.  A.  M. 
Stackhouse,  of  Moorestown,  N.  J.  Received  through  the  kind- 
ness of  Mr.  A.  P.  Zellner. 

In  exchange  were  received : 

Pennsylvania  Society  of  New  York :     Year  Book  for  1 909. 

Report  of  the  Pennsylvania  Federation  of  Historical  Societies, 
Fourth  Annual  Meeting,  January  7,  1909. 


17 

Calendar  of  Applications  for  Office  during  the  Presidency  of 
George  Washington.     From  Library  of  Congress. 

Indians  of  Berks  County,  by  D.  B.  Brunner,  1897. 

Mickley's  Murders  by  the  Indians,  1875.  From  George  B. 
Roberts,  Sharon  Hill,  Pa. 

Received  by  purchase : 

Conrad  Weiser  and  the  Indian  Policy  of  Colonial  Pennsyl- 
vania, by  Joseph  S.  Walton,  1900. 

Life  of  John  Heckewelder,  by  Rev.  Edward  Rondthaler,  1847. 

A  paper  on  "Lynford  Lardner  and  Grouse  Hall,"  was  read 
by  Secretary  Charles  R.  Roberts,  after  which  the  members  were 
delightfully  entertained  by  Col.  and  Mrs.  Trexler.  Refreshments 
were  served  and  the  several  trout  ponds  visited,  the  ladies  being 
conveyed  by  automobiles.  The  society  unanimously  passed  a 
vote  of  thanks  to  the  host  and  hostess  for  their  cordial  hospitality, 
and  to  Mr.  Roberts  for  his  paper.  The  attendance  at  this  meeting, 
the  most  enjoyable  and  successful  the  society  has  yet  had,  was 
about  fifty. 

Ch ARISES  R.  Roberts, 

Secretary. 


MINUTES  OF  NOVEMBER  MEETING,  1909.      - 

AllEntown,  Pa.,  November  6,  1909. 

A  regular  meeting  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society 
was  held  this  afternoon  in  the  chapel  of  the  Muhlenberg  Pre- 
paratory School. 

The  minutes  of  the  last  meeting  were  read  and  approved. 

The  following  persons  were  elected  to  membership :  Messrs. 
Elmer  J.  Faust,  Frank  D.  Biery,  Ambrose  A.  Kunkle,  Charles  W. 
Eisenhard,  Miss  A.  Violet  Kline,  Mrs.  George  T.  Ettinger,  Rev.  J. 
S.  Renninger  and  Rev.  George  M.  Scheidy. 

The  Executive  Committee  reported  that  the  publication  of  a 
second  volume  had  been  decided  upon. 

The  thanks  of  the  society  were  voted  to  the  donors  of  the 
following  gifts : 

Report  of  the  Valley  Forge  Park  Commission,  1908.  By 
John  W.  Jordan. 

A  Century  of  Population  Growth  in  the  United  States, 
1 790- 1 900.     By  U.  S.  Census  Bureau. 

Letters  of  Commodore  Stockton  to  the  New  York  Evening 
Post,  1864.     By  John  W.  Jordan. 

Comparative  Calculations  and  Remarks  on  Internal  Improve- 
ments by  Roads,  Canals,  and  River  Navigation;  Illustrative  of 
the  Advantages  to  be  Derived  from  the  Improvement  of  the  River 
Lehigh,  Philadelphia,  1821.     By  John  W.  Jordan. 


i8 


Publications  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Schuylkill  County, 
Vol.  II,  No.  4.     By  Schuylkill  County  Historical  Society. 

Facsimile  of  signatures  of  William  Johnson  and  eight  Indian 
chiefs. 

Copy  of  Germantown  Friends'  Protest  against  Slavery,  1688. 

Copy  of  letter  from  John  Bayly  to  President  Adams,  1777. 

Extracts  from  Manuscript  Memoirs  of  Col.  Alex  Lowrey. 

Printed  Forms  of  Parole,  from  Philadelphia  to  New  York, 
1780.     By  John  W.  Jordan. 

Large  framed  photograph  of  the  Castle  of  Sant'  Angelo,  on 
the  Tiber,  Rome,  Italy.  By  Miss  C.  Rosa  Troxell,  of  Wilkes- 
Barre. 

Ralph  R.  Metzger,  Esq.,  read  a  pamphlet  dealing  with  the 
beginning  of  the  Lehigh  Canal,  and  Rev.  Dr.  C.  J.  Cooper's  history 
of  the  Jerusalem  Church,  of  Eastern  Salisbury,  was  read.  The 
thanks  of  the  society  were  voted  the  writers  of  the  papers. 

The  meeting  then  adjourned. 

Charles  R.  Roberts, 

Secretary. 


Lynford  Lardner  and  Grouse  Hall. 

By  Charles  R.  Roberts. 


Lynford  Lardner — named  after  a  friend  and  near  relative 
of  the  family,  Rev.  Thomas  Lynford,  S.  T.  P.,  Rector  of  St. 
Nicholas's,  Aeon,  and  a  Chaplain  in  Ordinary  to  King  William 
and  Queen  Mary — was  born  July  1 8,  1715,  the  son  of  Dr.  John 
Lardner,  a  physician  of  Grace  Church  St.,  London  and  Woodford, 
Bpping  Forest,  Sussex,  and  his  wife,  a  Miss  Winstanley. 

He  spent  some  time  at  the  University  of  Cambridge,  but 
afterwards  went  into  a  counting-room  in  London.  The  family 
wished  to  obtain  a  Government  ofhce  for  him,  but  in  this  they 
were  unsuccessful,  and  the  influence  of  his  brother-in-law,  Richard 
Penn,  who  married  his  sister,  Hannah  Lardner,  made  an  opening 
for  him  in  Pennsylvania.  When  about  25  years  of  age,  there- 
fore, he  came  to  America,  sailing  from  Gravesend  on  the  5th  of 
May,  1740,  and  arrived  at  Philadelphia  in  the  beginning  of 
September.  He  resided  for  some  time  on  the  Penn  property, 
and  as  a  member  of  the  Land  Office  participated  in  the  manage- 
ment of  the  wild  regions  of  which  that  family  were  lords  par- 
amount. To  some  extent  he  was  also  their  commercial  agent. 
He  succeeded  James  Steele  in  the  position  of  Receiver-General 
or  collector  of  Quit-rents,  Purchase  Moneys,  &c.,  and  in  1746 
was  made  Keeper  of  the  Great  Seal  of  the  Province,  holding 
both  offices  several  years.  The  Receiver-General  had  a  salary  of 
from  ^300  to  ^400  and  the  Keeper  was  paid  in  fees  for  attesting 
the  laws. 

In  1746,  Lardner  became  the  owner  of  .Colliday's  paper  mill 
in  Springfield  Township,  and  afterwards  was  interested  in  the 
manufacture  of  iron,  but  was  at  no  time  in  the  mercantile  business. 
In  the  winter  of  1748-9  was  instituted  the  Dancing  Assembly, 
which  with  intermissions  has  been  kept  up  for  150  years.  Lardner 
was  manager  of  the  First  Assembly,  the  other  managers  being 
John  Swift,  ancestor  of  John  Swift,  so  often  Mayor  of  Philadelphia; 
John  Wallace,  son  of  a  Scotch  clergyman,  and  John  Inglis. 
Social  entertainments  had  always  been  a  feature  of  Provincial 
life,  and  the  arrival  of  a  Governor,  the  close  of  a  Mayoralty,  and 
often  an  official  conference^  was  the  occasion  of  gathering  around 
a  well-covered  board.     The  stately  minuet,  moreover,  had  been 


20 


learned  by  the  gayer  ladies  and  gentlemen,  and  parties  had  been 
given  by  John  Sober  and  others  at  the  Bachelor's  Hall;  but  in 
1748  it  was  thought  that  a  subscription  ball,  in  which  married 
men  might  join,  would  be  a  delightful  institution.  The  tax  was 
40  shillings,  but  this  paid  for  an  entertainment  every  Thursday, 
from  the  first  of  January  to  the  first  day  of  May,  beginning 
"precisely  at  six  in  the  evening  and  not  by  any  means  to  exceed 
twelve  the  same  night,"  and  for  complimentary  tickets  to  the 
ladies.  The  entertainment  was  moderate,  consisting  chiefly  of 
something  to  drink.  There  were  59  subscribers,  including  the 
managers. 

Lardner  was  made  a  Justice  for  Lancaster  County  in  1752, 
and  about  that  time  relinquished  the  Seal.  He  was  called  to  the 
Provincial  Council,  June  13,  1755.  In  March,  1756,  he  was 
chosen  Lieutenant  of  the  troop  of  horse,  organized  in  connection 
with  two  companies  of  foot  and  one  company  of  artillery  for  the 
defense  of  the  city.  Lardner  was  also  one  of  the  Commissioners 
to  spend  the  money  which  the  Assembly  about  this  time  voted 
for  the  King's  use.  He  declined  reappointment  the  following 
year,  but  served  in  the  same  capacity  subsequently.  He  was 
some  time  a  trustee  of  the  College  of  Philadelphia  and  a  member 
of  the  American  Philosophical  Society. 

After  his  marriage  he  resided  on  the  west  side  of  Second 
Street,  above  Arch,  and  owned  several  houses  in  that  locality, 
besides  farms  outside  the  city.  His  country  seat  was  "Somer- 
set," part  of  which  is  known  as  " Lardner 's  Point,"  on  the  Dela- 
ware, near  Tacony.  He  also  had  a  shooting  box  on  one  of  his 
tracts  in  Northampton  County,  to  which  he  gave  the  name 
"Grouse  Hall."  He  was  also  a  member  of  a  club  which  hunted 
foxes  in  the  neighborhood  of  Gloucester,  N.  J.  His  obituary 
notice  said,  "It  was  the  business,  the  purpose  of  his  being  next  to 
obeying  Him  to  whom  he  is  gone,  to  please  and  instruct.  Kind- 
ness and  a  desire  of  making  all  around  him  happy,  were  the  motives 
of  his  actions,  and  with  all  the  capacity  requisite  for  making  a 
figure  in  a  contentious  world,  moderation,  cheerfulness,  affability 
and  temperance  were  the  acts  of  his  excellent  life."  He  died 
October  6,  1774,  and*  was  buried  at  Christ  Church.  He  married, 
October  27,  1749,  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William  Branson,  a 
merchant  of  Philadelphia.  Mr.  Branson  was  a  man  of  wealth,  a 
letter  of  1 743  saying  that  he  was  worth  ^4000  a  year  in  course  of 
trade,  besides  ^400  a  year  in  rent  of  houses  in  town.  Mrs. 
Lardner  was  born  in  1732  and  died  August  26,  1761.  Mr.  Lardner 
married  the  second  time.  May  29,  1766,  Catharine  Lawrence, 
who  survived  him.     His  children  were: 

Elizabeth,  born  1750,  died  young. 

John,  born  September  6,  1752.  He  married  Margaret 
Saltar  and  resided  at  Somerset,  haviiTg  a  city  home  on  Walnut 
Street.     He  was  a  member  of  the  First  Troop  of  Philadelphia 


21 

City  Cavalry,  in  which  organization  he  participated  in  the  battles 
of  Trenton,  Princeton,  Brandy  wine  and  Germantown  and  was 
Cornet  from  1779  to  1783  and  1794  to  1796.  He  was  a  member 
of  the  Pennsylvania  Legislature  in  1791.  He  became  Captain  of 
the  Third  Troop,  Philadelphia  Light  Dragoons,  in  1798.  He  died 
February  12th,  1825,  and  is  buried  at  Trinity  Church,  Oxford. 

Hannah,  born  1753,  died  young. 

Francis,  born  November  8,  1754,  died  unmarried. 

Hannah,  born  November  28,  1756,  died  unmarried. 

William,  born  December  8,  1758,  married  Ann  Shepard. 

James,  born  1761,  and  was  lost  at  sea  in  1780. 

As  residents  of  Lehigh  County,  that  part  of  Mr.  Lardner's 
life  history  connected  with  Grouse  Hall  is  of  more  interest  to  us 
than  is  that  of  his  life  elsewhere.  The  first  owner  of  the  tract  was 
George  Rowe",  who  secured  it  by  a  warrant  from  Thomas  and 
Richard  Penn,  dated  October  13,  1737.  By  non-compliance  with 
the  terms  of  the  warrant  it  became  void  and  Lynford  Lardner 
secured  it  by  a  warrant,  dated  August  9,  1745,  and  also  an  adjoin- 
ing tract  by  a  warrant  of  September  10,  1747.  These  tracts  were 
united  into  one  tract  and  a  patent  dated  September  10,  1747,  was 
issued  for  the  same.  The  tract  began  at  a  post  by  vacant  land, 
south  75  degrees,  west  136  perches  to  a  post,  north  42,  west 
156  perches,  north  60  perches  to  a  post,  east  236  perches  and 
south  140  perches  to  the  place  of  beginning,  containing  195  acres. 

Quoting  the  words  of  the  patent,  we  find  the  following: 
"And  whereas,  said  Lynford  Lardner  hath  caused  sundry  buildings 
and  improvements  to  be  made  and  erected  upon  said  195  acres, 
now  called  or  known  by  the  name  of  Grouse  Hall,  now  at  the 
request  of  said  Lynford  Lardner,  we  would  be  pleased  to  grant  him 
a  confirmation  of  the  same."  Lardner  was  also  required  to  pay 
30  pounds,  4  shillings  and  6  pence.  The  wording  of  this  patent 
proves  to  us  that  Grouse  Hall  was  already  known  as  such  as 
early  as  1747,  and  that  a  building  had  already  been  erected  at 
that  time. 

Lardner's  plantation  of  the  Grange  was  formed  of  three 
tracts,  the  first  of  which  was  warranted  August  25,  1738,  to 
Reese  Phillips,  described  as  a  tract  near  Macungie.  The  second 
was  warranted  to  Henry  Deering  on  May  20,  1743.  Neither 
complied  with  the  conditions  of  the  warrants  and  they  became 
void.  September  16,  1749,  a  warrant  was  issued  to  Lynford 
Lardner  for  these  tracts  and  a  third  tract,  and  on  September  ?6, 
1750,  a  patent  was  issued  to  him  for  three  tracts  lying  contiguous, 
forming  one  tract  of  305^  acres,  called  the  Grange,  of  the  manor 
of  Pennsburg,  subject  to  the  payment  on  the  first  of  March  of 
every  year  of  one-half  penny  sterling  for  every  acre. 

Lardner's  will,  executed  September  30,  1774,  was  probated 
October  25,  1774.  In  it  he  named  his  wife  and  son,  John,  as 
executors,  and  directed  them  to  sell  the  Andover  Iron  Works  in 


22 

New  Jersey  and  all  his  houses  and  the  Warren  Tavern  in  the 
County  of  Chester.  He  bequeathed  to  his  wife  his  house  on 
Second  Street,  Philadelphia;  his  country  house,  Somerset,  in 
Oxford  Township,  Philadelphia  County,  and  the  time  of  servitude 
of  his  mulatto  man,  Pompey.  To  his  son,  John,  he  bequeathed 
all  his  books,  clothes,  watch,  his  share  in  the  Philadelphia  library, 
and  his  negro  man,  Toby.  To  his  son,  William,  one-third  of  all 
his  houses  in  Second  Street  and  500  pounds,  to  be  put  on  interest 
during  his  minority.  To  his  son,  James,  he  gave  all  his  rights  in 
warrants  of  land  received.  Then  follows  this  clause:  "Item, 
Whereas,  I  have  lately  formed  a  plan  to  divide  my  two  contiguous 
plantations  in  the  County  of  Northampton,,  one  of  them  called 
Grouse  Hall  and  the  other  called  the  Grange,"  etc.  He  then 
directs  that  150  acres  be  surveyed  off  to  make  another  plan- 
tation, called  Springwood,  and  devised  the  same  to  his  son, 
James,  to  whom  he  also  bequeathed  his  paper  mill  in  Springfield 
Township.  To  his  daughter,  Frances,  he  bequeathed  his  planta- 
tion of  Grouse  Hall,  "now  in  the  tenure  of  George  Rough,"  and 
to  his  daughter,  Hannah,  the  Grange,  "now  in  the  tenure  of  John 
Rough." 

It  is  probable  that  the  names  Rowe  and  Rough  refer  to  the 
same  man,  namely,  George  Ruch,  as  we  find  in  the  tax  list  of 
1764,  that  George  Ruch  was  taxed  on  400  acres  of  land  on  which 
he  lived,  but  did  not  own,  and  in  1772  was  taxed  twelve  pounds 
for  land  he  lived  on,  while  John  Ruch  was  taxed  ten  pounds, 
sixteen  shillings  for  the  land  on  which  he  lived. 

James  Lardner  having  died  in  his  minority,  the  four  remaining 
heirs  of  Lardner,  conveyed  to  Henry  Reitz,  of  Whitehall  Town- 
ship, on  March  11,  1794,  ^or  957  pounds,  18  shillings,  the  plantation 
of  Springwood,  containing  154^  acres,  "together  with  liberty 
if  found  necessary  for  watering  the  meadow  on  the  hereby  granted 
premises  to  dam  the  water  of  Little  Cedar  Creek  as  high  as  a 
large  stone,  now  standing  in  the  said  creek,  near  the  small  spring 
between  the  line  and  Wm.  Lohr's  fence."  Henry  Reitz  and 
his  wife,  Magdalena,  on  April  i,  1797,  conveyed  to  Samuel  Probst, 
their  son-in-law,  a  messuage  and  122  acres  and  123  perches,  and 
to  Daniel  Probst  a  messuage  and  104  acres  and  137  perches  of 
this  tract.  From  the  Probsts  it  descended  into  the  Xander 
family,  then  into  the  possession  of  the  late  Joseph  E.  Balliet  and 
is  now  owned  by  Col.  H.  C.  Trexler,  who  has  converted  it  into  the 
beautiful  and  attractive  spot  that  we  find  it  to-day. 

The  plantation  of  Grouse  Hall,  then  described  as  containing 
278  acres  and  14  perches,  was  sold  November  20,  1805,  by  John 
and  William  Lardner,  executors  of  their  sister,  Frances,  to  Caspar 
Schoenebruch.  This  deed  was  not  recorded.  Schoenebruch 
sold  parts  of  the  tract  to  various  persons,  among  them  Joseph 
Bock  and  John  Krack,  and  to  Joseph  Henry  he  sold  a  messuage 
and  tract  of  122  acres  and  98  perches  on  May  16,  181 2.     Joseph 


23 

Henry  and  his  wife,  Elizabeth,  sold  this  tract  to  Henry  Strauss 
on  April  5,  1814.  From  the  Strauss  family  it  passed  into  the 
possession  of  Tilghman  H.  and  John  Dorney  and  is  now  owned 
by  Robert  R.  Ritter. 

The  location  of  the  building,  called  Grouse  Hall,  has  been 
fixed  by  different  writers  in  different  localities. 

One  writer  gives  the  house,  built  by  Peter  Troxell,  in  1744, 
near  the  Jordan,  as  the  place.  Troxell  purchased  this  land  from 
Caspar  Wistar  as  early  as  1743.  Another  writer  fixed  the  loca- 
tion at  Guthsville,  while  a  third  stated  that  the  land  was  owned 
by  the  Wenner  family.  This  latter  comes  nearest  to  the  facts, 
as  the  Wenner  family  purchased  part  of  the  Grouse  Hall  tract. 

The  following  letters  in  the  manuscript  collections  of  the 
Historical  Society  of  Pennsylvania,  were  written  by  Lynford 
Lardner  to  William  Parsons,  of  Kaston : 

PhiladeIvPHIA,  May  10,  1753. 

"Dear  Sir:  The  bearer  is  my  tenant  at  Grouse  Hall.  He 
agreed  with  a  person  who  lives  upon  a  part  of  the  same  tract  to 
clear  annually  a  quantity  of  meadow  ground  in  lieu  of  rent.  This 
he  has  not  only  neglected  to  do,  but  has  likewise  sowed  two 
following  crops  of  wheat  upon  the  same  spot,  spends  most  of  his 
time  abroad  and  has  destroyed  a  considerable  quantity  of  young 
timber  to  make  fences  for  the  security  of  his  wheat,  when  at  a 
small  distance  an  abundance  of  that  more  proper  for  the  purpose 
might  be  collected.  In  short,  I  am  a  great  sufferer  through  his 
idleness  and  rascality.  I  would,  therefore,  beg  you  to  apply  to 
Mr.  Gordon  in  this  affair  and  give  him  any  fee  you  think  proper  in 
the  case.     Your  affectionate  friend,  Lynford  Lardner." 

Windsor,  Dec.  29,  1753. 
*'  This  will  be  delivered  to  you  by  Peter  Troxel,  who  bound 
himself  in  a  bond  and  warrant  with  Jacob  Wert  for  287  pounds. 
He  informs  me  only  one-half  of  the  stock  at  Grouse  Hall  lies  as 
yet  under  an  execution.  If  so,  I  consent  that  he  takes  any  legal 
method  to  secure  the  other  one-hklf  to  himself,  exclusive  of 
household  goods,  as  the  only  satisfaction  he  is  likely  to  obtain 
from  his  brother  bondsman.  This  much  I  have  promised  to 
write  you."  Lynford  Lardner. 

It  seems  probable  that  Troxell  lost  the  amount  of  the  bond, 
as  on  Jan.  12,  1754,  he  mortgaged  his  house  and  200  acres  of  land 
to  Lynford  Lardner  for  294  pounds. 

On  Scull's  map  of  Pennsylvania  in  1770,  Grouse  Hall  is 
located  between  the  Cedar  and  Jordan  Creeks.  By  the  survey 
of  a  road,  laid  out  in  1753,  from  Lower  Milford  to  Kern's  Mill, 
now  Slatington,  over  25  miles  in  length,  we  find  that  the  road 
passed  through  the  Jordan  Creek  and  land  of  Peter  Troxell, 
south  35  degrees,  east  32  perches  and  south  15  degrees,  east  60 
perches,  through  vacant  land,  south  20  degrees,  east  60  perches 


24 

and  south  lo  degrees,  west  92  perches  to  "the  height  of  a  long 
hill,  thence  by  land  of  Mr.  Lynford  Lardner,  south  10  degrees, 
east  40  perches  to  the  east  side  near  his  plantation  and  by  the 
same  south  15  degrees,  east  220  perches  and  by  vacant  land 
south  10  degrees,  east  420  perches,  to  the  Cedar  Creek,  the  distance 
from  the  Jordan  Creek  to  Mr.  Lardner's  plantation  being  284 
perches  and  from  there  to  the  Cedar  Creek  two  miles. 

Pacing  this  distance  of  284  perches  from  the  Jordan  we  come 
to  the  lane  running  west  through  land  belonging  for  many  years 
to  the  Wenner  family.  This  lane  apparently  ran  some  distance 
farther  years  ago  than  it  does  to-day,  for,  if  extended,  it  reaches 
Grouse  Hall,  and  was  evidently  the  only  outlet. 

In  conversation  with  Mr.  David  Schoudt,  of  Allentown,  w^ho 
is  now  90  years  old,  he  stated  that  he  had  heard  old  people  say 
that  Lardner's  house  was  a  long,  low  building. 

It  was  a  great  pleasure  and  satisfaction  to  the  writer  to  be 
able  to  say  that  on  May  30,  1909,  in  company  with  Thos.  P. 
Wenner,  a  member  of  this  society,  he  visited  this  vicinity,  and 
hearing  from  Charles  Wenner  that  the  house  built  by  an  English- 
man was  still  standing,  was  conducted  to  it  and  found  that  the 
greater  part  of  the  building  was  still  standing.  It  is  a  structure 
of  stone  with  graveled  sides,  and  was  originally  43  feet  long  and 
25  feet  wide,  a  part  having  crumbled  away.  The  interior  was  one 
long  room  with  a  small  cellar  under  the  southern  end,  where  a 
splendid  spring  still  gushes  forth  its  priceless  beverage.  At  the 
northern  end  is  a  large  fireplace,  capable  of  roasting  an  entire 
deer.     A  staircase  leads  to  a  small  attic. 

Here  in  this  beautiful  spot,  Lardner  and  his  friends  enjoyed 
the  tender  grouse  and  the  juicy  venison  after  a  day's  chase  in 
the  surrounding  forests  and  thickets.  Before  the  house  stretched 
a  natural  meadow,  through  which  a  small  run  coursed,  while  in 
the  distance  could  be  seen  the  Lehigh  hills,  in  their  pristine  beauty, 
undisfigured  by  smoke  of  coal  then  undiscovered,  or  by  the 
unknown  railroad  or  modern  stone  quarry.  Small  wonder  was  it 
that  the  men  of  power  of  those  days  sought  recreation  in  the 
beautiful  vales  and  along  the  matchless  streams  of  the  valley  of 
the  Lehigh. 


St.  John's  Church,  Mickley's,  Pa. 


History  of  Mickley's  Church, 

By  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Krick. 


While  St.  John's  Church  of  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran 
congregations  of  Whitehall  Township,  Lehigh  County,  Pa., 
commonly  known  as  Mickley's  Church,  does  not  have  the  proud 
distinction  of  being  one  of  the  first  or  earliest  churches  in  Lehigh 
County,  it  nevertheless  has  a  beautiful  and  interesting  history  to 
record,  of  which  the  members  and  the  community  can  point  to 
with  pride. 

All  history  is  interesting,  especially  the  early  history  of 
movements  or  efforts  which  are  made  looking  to  the  betterment 
of  the  social,  moral  and  religious  conditions  of  a  community  or 
county.  The  founding  and  establishing  of  all  churches  must  be 
considered  or  regarded  from  this  viewpoint.  When  the  first 
movement  was  started  to  conduct  religious  services  near  where 
the  present  church  is  now  located  we  do  not  know.  For  some 
time  services  were  held  in  the  barn  on  the  farm  now  owned  and 
occupied  by  T.  G.  Helfrich.  .  It  seems  that  no  house  of  worship 
was  erected.  A  burial  ground,  however,  was  in  existence  a 
short  distance  back  of  the  present  barn.  A  single  tombstone 
remains  with  the  following  inscription:  "Hier  Ruhet  Anna 
Cathrina  Mulrin  ist  Geboren  im  Jahr,  A  D  1733  und  gestorwen 
A  D  1775  den  18  August.  Mein  Leib  ruhet  in  der  Erd  doch 
komt  entlich  auch  die  zeit  dast  ich  Mich  dort  sehen  wert  in  der 
Froen  ewigkeit." 

Judging  from  the  date  of  death  we  infer  that  this  movement 
was  started  before  there  were  any  churches  in  Allentown.  When 
the  services  were  discontinued  we  do  not  know.  The  inhabitants 
of  this  section,  however,  felt  the  need  of  a  house  of  worship  more 
conveniently  located.  The  nearest  church  to  the  north  was  the 
Egypt  Church;  to  the  west,  the  Jordan;  to  the  south,  Allentown, 
and  to  the  east,  Howertown  or  Shoenersville. 

How  long  the  erection  of  a  new  church  or  the  organization 
of  congregations  was  agitated  we  do  not  know.  The  first  meeting 
looking  forward  to  the  erection  of  a  church  was  held  November 
II,  1848,  at  the  house  of  Andrew  Sheldon,  at  which  time  sixty-one 
persons  expressed  a  willingness  to  contribute  towards  the  erection 
of  a  church.     A  subscription  list  was  at  once  started.     When 


'^'. 


Rkv.  J.  S.  DuBBS,  D.  D. 
(1850-1852.) 


RKV.  W.  R.  HoIM^ORD/D.  D. 
(1863-1901.) 


Rev.  G.  p.  Stem. 
(i  900-1 901.) 


28 

an  amount  of  money  sufficient  to  warrant  success  had  been 
secured,  the  fathers  of  the  two  congregations  began  their  work 
in  earnest,  and  in  the  fear  of  the  Lord.  The  second  meeting  was 
held  April  i,  1849,  in  Mickley's  schoolhouse,  afterwards  called 
Butz's  schoolhouse,  at  which  time  an  organization  was  effected. 
This  schoolhouse  is  still  standing  on  Thomas  J.  Butz's  farm, 
between  Hokendauqua  and  Mickley's. 

After  Peter  Miller,  Solomon  Kemmerer,  George  Kemmerer, 
Peter  Mickley,  Jacob  Mickley,  Thomas  Butz,  David  Eberhard, 
John  Schadt  and  David  Biery  had  each  given  two  hundred  dollars 
and  Joseph  Biery,  Daniel  Roth  and  Peter  Roth  had  each  given 
one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars,  the  undertaking  was  considered 
safe. 

The  following  is  a  free  translation  of  the  introductory  article 
of  the  first  and  only  constitution  of  the  church : 

"On  the  ist  day  of  April  1849  a  number  of  inhabitants 
of  South  Wheithal  Township  Lehigh  Co.  gathered  at  Mickleys 
schoolhouse  to  confer  regarding  the  erection  of  a  new  church. 
The  assembly  was  unanimouslly  in  favor  that  as  soon  as  possible 
the  erection  of  a  church  should  be  begun.  For  this  purpose  the 
above  named  assembly  appointed  a  committee  of  8  persons  to 
draw  up  a  constitution  for  the  new  congregations.  The  selection 
fell  upon  the  following  persons:  John  Schadt,  Jacob  Mickley, 
Jr.,  Peter  Mickley,  Jr.,  Peter  Miller,  David  Eberhard,  Thomas 
Butz,  George  Kemmerer,  Charles  Troxel." 

The  committee,  according  to  instructions,  prepared  a  con- 
stitution with  a  few  changes.  It  was  afterwards  adopted  with 
a  few  amendments  added,  since  which  it  has  served  the  congrega- 
tions until  this  time. 

On  the  afternoon  of  the  same  day  and  at  the  same  place 
the  two  congregations  were  regularly  organized  and  the  first 
consistory  of  the  Reformed  congregation  and  the  first  council 
of  the  Lutheran  congregation  were  elected.  From  the  Reformed 
congregation  the  following  were  elected :  Elders,  David  Biery 
and  Peter  Roth;  deacons,  Reuben  Schreiber,  Jacob  Seiple, 
Henry  Schadt  and  Peter  Butz;  trustee,  John  Schadt;  presi- 
dent of  the  consistory,  Charles  Troxel.  For  the  Lutheran 
congregation  the  following  were  elected:  Elders,  Solomon 
Kemmerer  and  Reuben  Paul;  deacons,  Nathan  Eberhard,  Jesse 
Reichard,  David  Gross  and  Thomas  Paul ;  trustee,  George  Kem- 
merer, and  president  of  the  church  council,  John  Scheirer.  Thomas 
Butz  was  elected  treasurer  of  the  joint  consistory  and  served  in 
that  capacity  until  after  the  building  and  dedication  of  the 
church,  after  which  David  Eberhard  was  elected  treasurer  and 
served  until  the  time  of  his  death,  August  21,  1869,  after  which 
his  son,  Nathan  Eberhard,  was  elected,  who  served  until  Whit- 
monday,  1899,  when  Tilghman  Helfrich  was  elected  and  has 
served  up  to  the  present  time. 


Rev.  a.  J.  G.  DuBBS,  D.  D. 
(1852-1860.) 


30 

Nathan  Eberhard  also  served  as  secretary  of  the  joint  con- 
sistory until  1899,  when  James  Kemmerer  was  elected  and  served 
until  his  death.  His  son,  George,  served  for  a  few  years,  after 
which  Henry  Long  was  elected,  who  is  serving  in  that  capacity 
at  present. 

At  the  meeting  on  April  i,  1849,  the  following  Building 
Committee  was  appointed:  Jacob  Mickley,  Peter  Miller,  Peter 
Mickley  and  David  Eberhard.  Most  of  the  work  of  the  founda- 
tion and  building  was  done  by  the  members  themselves,  the 
Building  Committee  taking  the  lead.  The  land  belonging  to  the 
congregations  and  on  which  the  church  stands  was  given  by 
David  Beary  and  Daniel  Roth.  Joseph  Biery  gave  the  ground 
on  which  the  sheds  are  erected.  That  the  Building  Committee 
were  men  of  action  is  seen  from  the  fact  that  the  cornerstone  of 
the  new  church  was  laid  on  Whitsunday,  May  27,  1849,  less  than 
two  months  after  the  meeting  in  the  schoolhouse.  Rev.  J.  C. 
Becker,  D.  D.,  preached  in  the  morning  and  Rev.  Jeremiah 
Schindel,  who  became  the  first  Lutheran  pastor,  preached  in  the 
afternoon.  Rev.  J.  S.  Dubbs,  D.  D.,  was  also  present  and  assisted. 
Rev.  F.  W.  Mendsen  laid  the  cornerstone. 

The  new  church  was  dedicated  on  Saturday  and  Sunday, 
November   17   and   18,    1849.     On  Saturday  afternoon,   Rev.  J. 

5.  Dubbs,  D.  D.,  preached  and  Rev.  Jeremiah  Schindel  preached 
on  Sunday  forenoon.  The  collections  amounted  to  $235.86. 
The  original  building  cost  $5,494.42,  of  which  $4,378.42  was 
contributed  in  money  and  $1,116  in  labor  and  hauling.  All  was 
paid  for  at  the  final  settlement  shortly  after  the  dedication  and  a 
balance  of  $12.03  remained  in  the  treasury.  The  account  of  the 
money  and  labor  contributed  by  the  members  have  been  care- 
fully kept  by  the  secretary,  Nathan  Eberhard. 

How  many  persons  entered  into  the  organization  of  the  two 
congregations  we  do  not  know,  but  we  have  a  complete  list  of 
the  names  of  the  persons  who  communed  from  the  first  communion 
to  the  present  time. 

The  first  communion  of  which  we  have  any  record,  and 
probably  the  first  communion  held  in  the  new  church,  was  held 
by  the  Reformed  congregation.  May  12,  1850,  at  which  time 
64  persons  partook  of  the  Holy  Communion.  The  second 
communion  was  held  October  27th  of  the  same  year,  when  39 
persons  communed. 

The  first  communion  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  was 
celebrated  October  6,  1850,  at  which  time  65  persons  partook 
of  the  Holy  Sacraments.  The  second  communion  was  held 
March  23,  1851,  when  26  persons  communed. 

The  first  class  was  confirmed  in  the  new  church  October 

6,  1850,  by  the  Lutheran  pastor  and  numbered  5. 

The  first  confirmation  of  the  Reformed  congregation  was 
held  April  13,  1851,  when  22  persons  were  confirmed. 


Rev.  J.  H.  DuBBS,  D.  D. 
(i  860-1 863.) 


32 

The  first  church  register  extends  from  the  founding  of  the 
church  to  1863. 

The  largest  number  of  communicants  up  to  1863  in  the 
Reformed  congregation  was  April  6,  1861,  when  112  communed. 
The  smallest  number  communing  was  on  April  i,  1854,  when 
38  communed. 

The  largest  communion  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  was 
held  in  October,  1858,  when  85  communed.  The  smallest  number 
communing  was  on  March  23,  1851,  when  26  communed. 

The  first  record  of  death  is  Margaret  Grueber,  born  March 
30,  1770;  died  December  8,  1849. 

The  first  record  of  baptism  is  a  child  of  George  Rece  and 
wife,  baptized  Septernber  8,  1850. 

The  first  improvements  to  the  property  were  made  in  1868. 
The  Building  Committee  consisted  of  the  following  persons : 
Peter  Miller,  Thomas  Butz,  Jacob  Mickley,  George  Kemmerer, 
Reuben  Schreiber,  George  H.  Stem,  Charles  Henninger  and 
Edward  Houseman.  There  was  also  a  Ladies'  Furnishing 
Committee. 

John  Minnich  and  Edwin  Houseman  had  charge  of  the 
carpenter  work  and  outside  painting.  The  frescoing  and  graining 
was  done  by  Anthony  "Goth,  of  Bethlehem.  The  cost  of  the 
improvements  and  repairs  amounted  to  $4,789.57.  Of  this 
amount  $4,231.42  was  expended  by  the  Building  Committee 
and  $567.15  by  the  Ladies'  Furnishing  Committee,  who  had 
collected  $659.73.  After  some  delay  the  final  settlement  was 
made  and  a  balance  of  $26.20  was  turned  over  to  the  church 
treasurer. 

The  remodeled  church  was  dedicated  November  28,  1869. 
Rev.  D.  Kuntz,  of  Nazareth,  preached  in  the  morning;  Rev.  A. 
J.  G.  Dubbs,  D.  D.,  of  Allentown,  in  the  afternoon,  and  in  the 
evening  the  pastors  of  the  church  had  charge  of  the  services. 

In  1876,  the  basement  was  repaired.  The  old  stone  partition 
wall  was  taken  out  and  the  two  separate  rooms  made  into  one. 
This  room  was  used  for  the  Sunday  School,  until  the  spring  of 
1908,  when  the  Sunday  School  took  possession  of  the  new  chapel. 

In  1 88 1,  the  congregations  decided  to  erect  a  tower  and 
steeple,  together  with  a  house  for  the  organist.  The  Building 
Committee  consisted  of  T.  Franklin  Butz,  George  H.  Stem, 
Reuben  Hausman,  Dennis  Fry  and  Alfred  T.  Mickley.  The 
tower  and  steeple  are  139  feet  high  and  cost  $2,567.63.  The 
cost  of  the  organist's  house  was  $790.16. 

After  the  tower  was  completed  a  magnificent  bell  of  1,800 
pounds  was  placed  therein  by  T.  Franklin  Butz,  Mrs.  Eleanor 
Weaver  and  Mrs.  Eliza  Troxel,  children  of  Thomas  Butz,  one  of 
the  founders  of  the  church.  The  bell  bears  the  inscription, 
"The  Thomas  Butz  Family  Memorial."  The  dedication  of  the 
tower,  steeple  and  bell  took  place  January  8,  1882. 


Rev.  J.  D.  ScHiNDEL. 
(1867-1908,) 


34 

During  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  of  1882,  a  fine  pipe 
organ  of  eighteen  stops  was  presented  to  the  church  by  George 
H.  Stem  and  family.  The  same  bears  the  inscription,  "To  the 
praise  and  glory  of  God.  Presented  by  George  H.  Stem  and 
family  to  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran  congregations  of  South 
Whitehall  Church,  1882." 

The  organ  was  dedicated  September  24,  1882.  Rev.  T.  O. 
Stem,  of  Kaston,  preached  in  the  morning  and  Revs.  William 
Rath  and  E.  A.  Gernant,  of  Allentown,  in  the  afternoon,  the 
pastors  having  charge  of  the  evening  services. 

The  instruments  in  use  before  this  organ  was  presented  were 
the  one  purchased  August  17  and  dedicated  September  26,  1851, 
and  the  cabinet  organ,  secured  through  the  efforts  of  Joseph 
Gackenbach,  and  dedicated  May  21,  1,871. 

Beyond  the  ordinary  yearly  repairs  and  improvements, 
nothing  special  was  done  to  the  church  until  the  semi-centennial 
year,  1899.  The  Building  Committee  consisted  of  Henry  Lazarus, 
Tilghman  G.  Helfrich,  James  F.  Schreiber  and  Alfred  T.  Mickley. 
The  church  was  rededicated  June  4,  1899.  Rev.  W.  Wackernagel, 
D.  D.,  preached  in  the  morning.  Rev.  W.  F.  More  and  Rev. 
J.  F.  Lambert  preached  in  the  afternoon.  Rev.  G.  P.  Stem 
preached  in  the  evening.  Rev.  M.  O.  Roth,  Franklin  H.  Moyer, 
Morris  Schadt  and  Rev.  J.  J.  Schindel  were  also  present  and 
assisted.  The  cost  of  the  improvements  amounted  to  $3,000  and 
were  all  paid  for  when  the  semi-centennial  was  celebrated,  Novem- 
ber 12,  1899. 

A  Missionary  Society  was  organized  by  the  Reformed  con- 
gregation. May  17,  1874,  and  by  the  Lutheran  congregation  in 
1888. 

The  erection  of  a  suitable  Sunday  School  room  was  agitated 
for  some  time,  definite  action  being  taken  in  the  fall  of  1906, 
when  the  congregations  voted  in  favor  of  the  erection  of  an  annex. 
Work  on  the  same  was  started  in  the  spring  of  1907.  The  corner- 
stone of  the  new  annex  was  laid  with  appropriate  services,  June 
23rd.  Revs.  Thomas  H.  Krick  and  J.  J.  Schindel  conducted  the 
devotional  services.  Rev.  A.  T.  W.  Steinhaeuser,  of  Allentown, 
delivered  an  address  in  German  and  Rev.  R.  M.  Kern,  of  Allen- 
town, delivered  an  address  in  English.  Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel  laid* 
the  cornerstone. 

The  dedication  of  the  annex  took  place  June  7,  1908.  Rev. 
J.  F.  Lambert,  of  Catasauqua,  preached  in  the  morning.  Rev. 
C.  M.  Jacobs,  of  Allentown,  and  Rev.  G.  P.  Stem,  of  Siegfried, 
delivered  addresses  in  the  afternoon.  Rev.  David  Scheirer,  of 
Howertown,  preached  in  the  evening.  Rev.  T.  H.  Krick  and 
Rev.  J.  J.  Schindel  conducted  the  devotional  services.  Rev. 
J.  D.  Schindel,  D.  D.,  was  present  at  the  three  services,  but  owing 
to  throat  trouble,  by  the  advice  of  his  physician,  took  no  part  in 
the  services.  Rev.  O.  H.  Strunk,  of  Schuylkill  Haven,  was 
present  at  the  three  services  and  made  an  earnest  plea  for  the 
liquidation  of  the  debt.     The  subscriptions  and  cash  collections 


Rev.  J.  J.  ScHiNDEL, 
(1899-        ) 


Rev.  Jeremiah  Schindel, 
(1850-1859.) 


Rev.  T.  H.  Krick. 
(1901-        ) 


36 

amounted  to  $550.  The  building  is  made  of  cement  blocks, 
manufactured  by  Long  &  Mickley.  The  Building  Committee 
were  Tilghman  Helfrich,  president;  Henry  E.  Long,  architect; 
Henry  E.  Fenstermaker,  secretary;  James  W.  Eberhard,  treasurer; 
James  Marcks  and  Richard  Lazarus. 

Name. 

Inasmuch  as  the  original  name  of  the  church  was  South 
Whitehall  Church  and  was  no  longer  proper,  the  congregations 
by  a  unanimous  vote.  May  22,  1899,  changed  the  name  to  St. 
John's  Church  of  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran  congregations  of 
Whitehall  Township,  Lehigh  County,  Pa.  The  church  was  also 
for  some  time  known  as  the  Sheldon's  Church,  but  is  best  known 
as  Mickley 's  Church. 

Ministers. 

For  the  Reformed  congregation  the  following  have  been 
the  pastors : 

Rev.  J.  S.  Dubbs,  D.  D.,  1850-1852. 

Rev.  A.  J.  G.  Dubbs,  D.  D.,  1852-1860. 

Rev.  J.  H.  Dubbs,  D.  D.,  1860-1863. 

Rev.  W.  R.  Hofford,  D.  D.,  May  3,  1863,  to  January  31,  1901. 

Rev.  G.  P.  Stem,  assistant  to  Rev.  Hofford,  1 900-1 901. 

Rev.  Thomas  H.  Krick,  August  i,  1901 — 

For  the  Lutheran  congregation : 

Rev.  Jeremiah  Schindel,  1 850-1 859. 

Rev.  B.  E.  Kramlich,  1859-1860. 

Rev.  W.  G.  Memmy  as  supply,  1 860-1 861. 

Rev.  F.  J.  F.  Schantz,  D.  D.,  1861-1866. 

Rev.  Carl  Schlenker,  supply,  1 866-1 867. 

Rev.  J.  D.  Schindel,  June  i,  1867,  to  June  27,  1908. 

Rev.  J.  J.  Schindel,  1899— 

The  following  have  been  the  organists: 

F.  G.  Bernd,  1850-1851. 

Jacob  Slemmer,  1 851-1852. 

John  S.  Faust,  1852-1861. 

John  Leonard,  1 861-1869. 

Benjamin  Seam,  1870. 

Joseph  Gackenbach,  1 871-1872. 

James  A.  Fatzinger,  1 872-1 874. 

James  B.  Snyder,  1 874-1 893. 

Alfred  J.  Benner,  1 894-1 903. 

Alfred  J.  Held,  1903 — 

The  following  have  been  the  superintendents  of  the  Sunday 
School : 

Samuel  Miller,  Nathaniel  Krause,  Alfred  W.  Troxel,  William 
K.  Derr,  Benjamin  Seam,  William  Stem,  James  P.  Geiner,  Edward 
Haaf,  Tilghman  G.  Helfrich,  James  J.  Kemmerer,  William  E. 
Erdell,  Franklin  Krechel,  William  E.  Newhard,  Gustavius  Reich- 
ard,  Charles  Hefifelfinger,  Henry  Long,  Henry  Fenstermaker. 


BuTz's  School  House. 


Founders  and  Organizers  of  Mickley's 
Church,  Whitehall  Township. 

By  Miss  Minnie)  F.  Mickley. 


William  Penn,  in  his  "Reflections  and  Maxims,"  says,  "It 
is  one  of  the  fatalist  errors  of  our  lives,  when  we  spoil  a  good 
cause  by  ill  management,  and  it  is  not  impossible  but  we  may 
mean  well  and  in  an  ill  business;  but  that  does  not  defend  it." 

It  was  the  example  of  their  forefathers,  who  fled  from  the 
religious  persecution  in  Alsace  Lorraine  and  the  Rhine  Pfaltz, 
that  the  people  of  Whitehall  followed  in  the  building  of  Egypt 
Church,  and  two  generations  later  in  the  building  of  this  church. 

I  have  copied  the  names  of  the  sixty-one  men  and  women 
who  contributed.  They  met  at  the  hotel,  November  ii,  1848, 
six  months  before  they  met  in  the  schoolhouse  for  organization, 
April  I,  1849.  Then  they  prepared  to  act,  and  at  this  meeting 
the  following  persons  were  appointed  to  prepare  a  constitution  for 
the  government  of  the  church:  John  Schaadt,  Jacob  Mickley, 
Peter  Mickley,  Peter  Miller,  David  Eberhard,  Thomas  Butz, 
George  Kemmerer  and  Charles  Troxell.  The  constitution  pre- 
sented by  this  committee  was  adopted,  and  with  few  changes  is 
still  used  by  the  congregations.  The  officers  were  also  named  at 
this  time.  The  following  Building  Committee  was  appointed: 
Jacob  Mickley,  Peter  Miller,  Peter  Mickley  and  David  Eberhard. 
Most  of  the  work  of  the  foundations  and  much  of  the  building 
was  done  by  the  members  themselves,  the  Building  Committee 
taking  the  lead. 

The  cornerstone  was  laid  on  Whitsunday,  May  27,  1849, 
less  than  two  months  after  they  organized  in  the  schoolhouse. 

The  following  list  I  found  in  an  old  desk  that  belonged  to 
my  grandfather,  Jacob  Mickley: 

As  we  the  undersigned  have  held  a  meeting  on  Nov.  nth, 
1848  in  South  Whitehall  township,  county  of  Lehigh  at  the  house 
of  Andrew  Sheldon  for  to  build  a  Church  in  the  said  township 
just  below  the  house  of  Mr.  Sheldon  on  the  lands  of  David  Biery, 
Daniel  Rhoads  and  Joseph  Biery, 

Peter  Rhoads   Pres. 
Jacob  Sherrer  Sec. 


39 


I. 

Peter  Roth. 

32. 

Thilman  Scheirer. 

2. 

Jacob  Scherer. 

33- 

Joseph  Reichard. 

3- 

Jacob  Mickley  Jr. 

34- 

George  Kress. 

4- 

David  Biery. 

35- 

Moses  Diefenderfer. 

5-, 

Jacob  Heckenswelder. 

36. 

Owen  Kuntz. 

6. 

David  Everhard. 

37- 

Thomas  Geitner. 

7- 

John  Schadt. 

38- 

Jonas  Scheirer. 

8. 

Joseph  Biery. 

39- 

J.  P.  Butz. 

9- 

Reuben  Paul. 

40. 

Peter  Hoffman. 

lO. 

Charles  Troxell. 

41. 

Stephen  Lentz. 

II. 

Andrew  Sheldon. 

42. 

Abraham  Worm  an. 

12. 

H.  Patterson. 

43- 

Tilghman  Freiman. 

13- 

Peter  Mickley. 

44- 

Jacob  Seipel  Jr. 

14- 

George  Kemerer. 

45- 

St  off  el  Freyman. 

15- 

Jacob  Schriber. 

46. 

Jonathon  Semel. 

i6. 

Thomas  Butz. 

47. 

Reuben  Schad. 

17- 

John  Scheirer. 

48. 

John  Sheatz. 

i8. 

David  Gross. 

49. 

Peter  Kolb. 

19- 

Conrad  Meyer. 

50. 

Josiah  Scherer. 

20. 

Solomon  Kemerer. 

51- 

Benjamin  H.  Schaad, 

21. 

Jacob  Mickley  Sr. 

52. 

Solomon  Wenner. 

22. 

M.  Rickard. 

53- 

Owin  Bortz. 

23- 

John  Shaadt. 

54- 

Paul  Newhard. 

24- 

Heinrich  Schaadt. 

55- 

James  Ringer. 

25- 

Jacob  Gruber. 

56. 

Maria  Ringer. 

26. 

Daniel  Roth. 

57- 

Henry  Schneider. 

27. 

Peter  Miller. 

58. 

Daniel  Scnyder. 

28. 

Joseph  Miller. 

59- 

Daniel  J.  Rhoads. 

29. 

George  Seipel. 

60. 

Solomon  D.  Heiser. 

30- 

S.  Miller,  widow. 

61. 

Jacob  Roth. 

31- 

Robert  Mclntire. 

Peter  Rhoads  was  president  of  the  meeting  held  at  the  hotel 
of  Andrew  Scheldon,  one  of  the  first  elders,  and  one  of  the 
descendants  of  one  of  the  organizers  of  Egypt  Church.  Daniel 
J.  Rhoads  was  also  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  early  Whitehall 
families  prominent  in  the  building  of  the  Egypt  Church.  David 
Biery  and  Daniel  Roth  gave  the  land  for  the  church  and  old 
burying  ground. 

Jacob  Sherer  lived  in  Whitehall.  Whether  he  was  a  descend- 
ant of  the  Sherers,  of  Berks  County,  I  do  not  know. 

Jacob  Mickley,  Sr.  and  Jr.,  are  descendants  of  John  Jacob 
Mickley,  who  is  mentioned  in  the  Egypt  records  in  August,  1801, 
as  architect.  His  grandsons,  Jacob  and  Peter  Mickley,  were 
members  of  the  Building  Committee  of  this  church. 

David  and  Joseph  Biery  were  the  descendants  of  Joseph 
Biery,  of  Berks  County,  whose  son,  Henry  Biery,  was  one  of  the 
builders  of  the  Egypt  Church  in  1785. 


40 

Nathan  Eberhard,  one  of  the  deacons,  and  David  Eberhard 
are  descendants  of  Joseph  Eberhard,  who  was  one  of  the  early 
members  of  the  Great  Swamp  congregation  in  Lower  Milford, 
some  of  the  family  being  members  of  the  Egypt  Church. 

John  Schaadt,  an  elder  and  member  of  the  committee  who 
drew  up  the  Church  Constitution,  was  a  grandson  of  one  of  the 
early  members  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  Egypt,  one  of  the 
builders  of  the  second  church  in  1781. 

Reuben  Paul,  elder  of  the  church,  is  a  descendant  of  John 
Paul,  mentioned  as  a  member  of  the  Egypt  Church  in  1785. 

Thomas  Paul  was  one  of  the  deacons. 

Charles  Troxell  was  one  of  the  Troxell  family,  whose  ances- 
tors gave  part  of  the  land  on  which  the  Egypt  Church  was  built 
in  1764,  and  whose  ancestor  was  a  child  of  Peter  Troxell,  one  of 
whose  sons  was  the  first  baptism,  mentioned  in  1734,  of  the 
Egypt  congregation.  He  was  president  of  the  consistory  of  the 
Reformed  congregation. 

George  Kemmerer,  trustee  and  member  of  the  committee 
that  prepared  the  constitution,  and  Solomon  Kemmerer  were  the 
descendants  of  the  Kemmerers,  of  Salisbury  Township,  where 
they  were  active  members  of  the  Salisbury  Church.  Solomon 
was  one  of  the  first  elders  of  Mickley's  Church. 

Thomas  Butz,  great-grandson  of  Peter  Butz,  who  settled  in 
Butz  Dale  (Gass),  Berks  County,  where  the  family  were  members 
of  the  Long  Swamp  Church,  was  the  first  treasurer  of  this  church 
and  a  member  of  the  committee  that  prepared  the  constitution. 

The  Ringers  were  descendants  of  George  Ringer,  one  of  the 
early  settlers  of  Whitehall,  whose  ancestor  was  one  of  the  elders 
of  the  Egypt  Church. 

Maria  Ringer  was  one  of  the  two  women,  whose  names  are 
mentioned  as  contributors. 

Jacob  and  Reuben  Schrieber  were  descendants  of  Philip 
Jacob  Schreiber,  who  was  elder  and  trustee  and  architect  of  the 
Egypt  Church  in  1801. 

Paul  Newhard  was  a  descendant  of  Michael  Newhard,  who 
was  one  of  the  deacons  of  the  Egypt  Church  in  1801. 

The  late  Dr.  Schindel,  in  a  sketch  of  the  Lutheran  congre- 
gation of  Egypt,  says  that  an  effort  was  made  to  build  a  church 
at  Helf rich's  Spring,  where  there  was  a  cemetery  in  which  the 
Millers  and  Helfrichs  were  buried. 

Peter  Miller,  a  member  of  the  Building  Committee,  was  a 
descendant  of  Catherine  Miller,  who  was  buried  in  the  old  ceme- 
tery. His  parents  were  baptized  and  confirmed  at  Egypt.  I 
do  not  know  who  S.  Miller,  widow,  was. 

The  Roths,  Ringers,  Eberhards,  Sherers  and  Schaadts 
attended  the  services  which  were  held  in  the  old  grist  mill,  but 
later  became  founders  of  this  church.  These  people,  no  doubt, 
preferred  that  location,  as  it  was  nearer  their  homes. 


Henry  and  Daniel  Schneider  were  descendants  of  Stephen 
Schneider,  who  settled  in  Whitehall  before  1765,  and  were,  no 
doubt,  related  to  the  John  Schneider,  whose  children  were  scalped 
by  the  Indians  in  1763.  They  were  prominent  members  of  the 
Egypt  Church. 

Peter  Kolb  belonged  to  the  Kolb  family,  who  lived  near  the 
Jordan,  whose  ancestors,  no  doubt,  belonged  to  the  Jordan 
Church. 

Tilghman  and  Christopher  Fryman  belonged  to  a  Whitehall 
famil.y     Tilghman  Freyman  died  a  few  years  ago. 

The  Scheirers  are  descended  from  Adam  Scheirer,  who  was  a 
member  of  the  Union  Church;  John  Scheirer  being  president  of 
the  first  Church  Council  of  Mickley's  Lutheran  Church. 

David  Gross,  Jacob  Seipel  and  Jesse  Reichard  were  elected 
deacons  at  the  first  church  meeting  held  in  the  stone  schoolhouse, 
April  I,  1849. 

Peter  Hoffman  was  a  descendant  of  Michael  Hoffman,  one 
of  the  early  settlers  and  an  officer  of  the  Egypt  Church. 

Andrew  Scheldon  (his  son,  the  late  John  Sheldon,  of  Phila- 
delphia, told  me)  came  to  Whitehall  from  Western  New  York, 
and  he,  no  doubt,  became  interested  in  the  building  of  the 
church  through  his  wife,  Anna  Mickley. 

Conrad  Meyer  was  of  Lower  Milford,  where  his  ancestors 
were  mentioned  as  belonging  to  the  Great  Swamp  Church. 

Jonathan  Semmel  was  a  descendant  of  Martin  Semmel,  who 
was  a  member  of  the  Jordan  Church,  and  was  among  the  early 
Whitehall  families. 

On  the  occasion  of  the  50th  anniversary  of  the  founding  of 
this  church,  Rev.  Dr.  J.  D.  Schindel,  in  his  address,  said,  "Fifty 
years  ago  our  fathers  and  grandfathers  met  and  organized  this 
church.  They  have  all  passed  away,  the  work  and  the  church 
remain.  Fifty  years  from  to-day  the  little  children  here  will  be 
in  our  places.  We  who  remember  the  beginnings,  not  one  of  us 
will  be  here."  To-day  we  meet  without  the  kindly  presence  of 
Dr.  Schindel,  and  to  those  who  attend  this  church,  I  know  it  is 
with  a  feeling  of  sadness  to  all  of  us  that  he  can  not  join  in  the 
greeting  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society.  As  a  member 
of  the  Historical  Society  his  absence  and  loss  is  keenly  felt.  We 
know  what  great  interest  he  would  have  taken  to-day,  and  while 
trying  to  compile  this  little  sketch  of  the  organizers  of  this  church, 
I  miss  the  knowledge  that  he  could  have  given  me  of  the  people  of 
whom  I  write,  for  he  was  the  link  between  the  past  and  present, 
a  pastor  who  knew  his  people,  who  could  mention  the  names  of 
every  member  of  each  family.  We  all  remember  his  kindly 
greeting  in  which  he  invariably  remembered  the  member  of  the 
family  who  was  absent  from  home  or  ill.  He  could  have  told 
me  so  much  that  I  want  to  know  concerning  the  people  of  whom  I 
have  given  so  imperfect  a  sketch.     If  we  could  have  had  a  paper 


42 

from  Dr.  Schindel  we  should  have  a  continuation  of  that  most 
interesting  sketch  of  the  Egypt  Church,  which  is  given  in  the 
proceedings  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society.  I  feel  that 
my  paper  is  a  very  feeble  effort  to  give  you  what  otherwise  should 
be  a  more  interesting  historical  article. 

These  men  and  women  have  all  passed  away.  They  have 
left  to  us  a  legacy  in  our  places  of  worship,  a  worthy  desire  for 
something  uplifting.  When  you  see  a  country  place  and  a  village 
church,  you  feel  a  confidence  in  the  people  of  the  neighborhood, 
for  church-going  people  are  generally  good  people.  I  know  that 
the  spire  of  this  church  has  been  an  inspiration  to  many  persons, 
and  one  who  lived  about  a  mile  from  here  could  see  the  spire  from 
her  bedroom  window.  She  was  a  foreigner,  who  often  felt  lonely 
and  sometimes  forsaken.  She  said,  "When  I  look  across  the 
country  and  see  the  church  in  the  distance  with  its  spire  pointing 
heavenward,  I  feel  a  consoling  influence  of  good."  We  all  know, 
when  we  are  away  from  home,  the  sight  of  a  church  in  a  rural 
district  seems  like  a  benediction.  Let  us  try  to  follow  in  the 
footsteps  of  our  forefathers. 


Notable  Events  in  the  Social  Life  of 
Allentown  in  the  1  8th  Century. 

By  Chari^es  R.  Roberts. 


Perhaps  the  first  noteworthy  event  in  the  history  of  Allen- 
town  took  place  on  Sunday,  October  9,  1763,  the  day  after  the 
Indian  massacres  in  Whitehall  township,  when  the  inhabitants 
came  flocking  to  the  new  town  in  such  numbers  that  the  Lutheran 
minister,  Rev.  Jacob  Joseph  Roth,  was  obliged  to  stop  preaching. 
Colonel  James  Burd,  commander  of  the  troops  stationed  at  Fort 
Augusta  (now  Sunbury),  had  arrived  in  town  on  Friday  evening, 
and  in  a  letter  written  by  him  he  states  that  on  Saturday  the 
town  was  crowded  with  men,  women  and  children  flying  from  the 
Indians,  whom  they  said  were  within  a  few  miles  of  the  place, 
killing  all  before  them  and  burning  the  houses.  Thereupon  he 
gathered  the  men  of  the  town  together  and  formed  a  company  of 
twenty-five  men  for  the  defence  of  the  town,  but  found  only  four 
guns  in  the  town,  one  of  which  was  his  own,  two  out  of  order, 
and  no  ammunition.  Colonel  Burd  was  obliged  by  the  Governor's 
instructions  to  him  to  leave  Northampton  on  Sunday,  and  after 
his  departure  George  Wolf  was  chosen  Captain  and  Abraham 
Rinker,  Lieutenant  of  the  company.  Captain  Wolf  was  the 
bearer  of  a  letter  sent  the  next  day  by  Rev.  Roth  to  Governor 
Hamilton,  asking  for  arms  and  ammunition. 

Accounts  of  the  early  social  life  of  Allentown  are  very  meagre, 
as  doubtless,  the  inhabitants  in  the  first  few  decades  had  little 
time  in  the  struggle  for  existence  for  social  amenities.  The  first 
mention  of  guests  entertained  here  is  in  the  diary  of  James  Allen, 
who  spent  some  time  at  Trout  Hall  in  the  first  part  of  November, 
1770,  with  Mr.  Lawrence,  his  brother,  William  Allen,  and  James 
Tilghman,  Secretary  of  the  Land  office.  They  were  hunting 
grouse  "at  Heller's,  near  the  gap  of  ye  mountain,"  now  known 
as  the  Wind  Gap,  but  "to  their  surprise  did  not  get  one  grouse." 

The  writer  of  "A  Summer  Jaunt  in  1773,"  does  not  speak 
very  highly  of  Allentown.  The  account  says  that  the  party 
arrived  at  Allentown  about  nine  o'clock  and  stopped  at  the  sign 
of  the  King  of  Prussia,  but  that  the  odors  that  assailed  their 
nostrils  were  so  unpleasant  that  they  could  not  remain  in  it,  and, 
to  quote  the  exact  language,  "had  it  not  been  for  the  kindness  of 


44 

Mr.  Backhouse  [Richard  Backhouse,  later  of  Durham  Iron 
Works],  who  invited  the  company  to  take  breakfast  with  him, 
must  have  gone  without,  but  we  were  strangers  and  he  took  us 
in,  for  which  he  has  our  blessing.  AUentown  is  a  pretty  situation, 
but  it  seems  to  be  a  poor  place." 

June  25,  1773,  was,  no  doubt,  the  occasion  of  a  large  gathering 
here,  when  the  cornerstone  of  Zion  Reformed  Church  was  laid. 
This  was  a  stone  building,  the  successor  of  the  log  church,  used 
jointly  by  the  Reformed  and  Lutherans.  It  cost  about  500 
pounds  sterling. 

The  summer  of  1776,  Mr.  James  Allen  spent  at  Trout  Hall, 
and  he  says,  "The  country  was  to  me  delightful.  I,  my  neighbor, 
Mr.  Benezet,  Captain  Symes  (of  the  52nd  Foot),  a  prisoner,  to- 
gether with  occasional  visits,  made  the  time  agreeable  enough." 
Mr.  John  Benezet,  a  merchant  of  Philadelphia,  lived  in  a  stone 
house,  still  standing  in  Catasauqua,  which  he  had  purchased  in 
1776  from  George  Taylor,  a  signer  of  the  Declaration  of  Independ- 
ence. He  owned  a  fine  plantation  of  over  300  acres  along  the 
west  bank  of  the  Lehigh,  and  spent  his  summers  here.  He  sold 
the  property  in  1782  to  David  Deshler,  of  AUentown,  who  died 
there. 

During  October  and  November,  Mr.  Allen  remained  at  Trout 
Hall,  in  his  own  words,  "a  calm  spectator  of  the  Civil  War," 
but  occasionally  gave  great  offense  to  the  violent  whigs  of  North- 
ampton by  entertaining  the  regular  officers,  our  prisoners,  and 
was  often  threatened  on  that  account. 

In  February,  1777,  the  town  was  filled  with  soldiers,  the 
battalion  of  militia  of  this  district  assembling  here,  numbering 
600  men.  They  remained  two  weeks  and  marched  off  on  the 
15th  of  February. 

On  September  17,  1777,  James  Hamilton,  former  Colonial 
Governor  of  the  Province  and  uncle  to  Mr.  Allen,  arrived  at 
Trout  Hall,  where  he  was  sent  by  resolve  of  Congress.  He  was 
very  happy  that  he  was  so  well  situated,  and  remained  here  the 
entire  winter. 

On  November  2,  1777,  John  Hancock  passed  through  here 
on  his  way  from  York  to  Boston.  He  was  escorted  by  a  troop  of 
fifteen  horsemen. 

On  November  21,  1777,  Mr.  Allen  wrote  in  his  diary  that 
"Mr.  John  Adams,  who  passed  through  here  a  week  ago,  said 
that  independence  was  now  unalterably  settled."  He  adds, 
"The  General  Hospital  is  still  here  and  the  Director  General, 
Dr.  Shippen,  and  his  assistant.  Dr.  Bond,  my  old  acquaintance, 
with  my  wife's  cousin,  T.  Lawrence,  make  out  a  good  society, 
and  we  endeavor  to  banish  Politics." 

On  the  26th  of  December,  1777,  Mr.  Allen  rode  to  Valley 
Forge  and  dined  with  General  Washington  at  his  headquarters, 


•  HE 

UNl'veBSlTY 

45 

who  was  very  civil  to  him.  He  received  permission  for  Mrs. 
Lawrence,  his  wife  and  children  to  go  to  Philadelphia,  but  not 
to  return.  Mrs.  Lawrence,  with  his  daughters,  Nancy  and  Peggy, 
shortly  after,  went  to  Philadelphia,  and  on  the  7th  of  January, 
1778,  Mr.  Allen  accompanied  his  wife  and  child,  with  Mrs.  Duberry 
and  her  daughter,  to  the  British  lines  about  the  city.  After  they 
had  gone  into  the  city,  Mr.  Allen  waited  at  the  lines  until  his 
three  brothers  and  Mr.  Lawrence  came  out,  and  all  rode  to  Cler- 
mont arid  dined  together,  with  Capt.  Craig,  of  the  American 
horse,  who  was  so  polite  as  to  meet  them  on  their  way  down 
and  escort  them  near  the  city.  Mr.  Allen  was  inexpressibly 
happy  at  meeting  his  brothers,  whom  he  had  not  seen  since  Decem- 
ber I,  1776,  and  wrote  that  he  never  passed  a  happier  day,  nor 
was  more  unhappy,  than  when  they  left  him  to  return  in  the 
evening.  He  spent  the  night  at  Mrs.  Lawrence's,  and  arrived 
here  at  Trout  Hall  "the  day  but  one  after." 

On  the  13th  of  February,  1778,  Mr.  Allen  left  Trout  Hall 
for  the  last  time,  and  went  to  Philadelphia  with  his  sister,  Mrs. 
John  Penn.  He  wrote,  February  27,  1778,  "Here  I  feel  an  ease, 
security  and  freedom  of  speech,  that  has  long  been  denied  me; 
while  on  the  other  hand,  I  find  my  finances  inadequate  to  the 
expenses  of  living  in  my  usual  style;  and  should  prefer  my  old 
situation  at  Trout  Hall,  with  security  for  my  person  and  property." 
He  died  in  September,  of  this  year,  1778. 

On  January  2,  1779,  a  troop  of  Pulaski's  cavalry  passed 
through  here  on  the  way  to  Lebanon  for  winter  quarters. 

Mrs.  Washington  or  Lady  Washington,  as  she  is  called  in 
the  Moravian  Diary,  passed  through  here,  with  her  escort,  on 
June  16,  1779,  when  she  left  Bethlehem  on  her  way  to  Virginia. 

On  October  6,  1780,  Joseph  Reed,  President  of  the  Supreme 
Executive  Council;  John  Bayard,  Speaker  of  the  Assembly,  and 
David  Rittenhouse,  State  Treasurer,  escorted  by  twenty  Bucks 
County  militia,  on  horseback,  passed  through  here  on  the  way  to 
Reading. 

After  considerable  research  in  the  Congressional  Library  and 
elsewhere,  I  am  now  able  to  state  that  General  George  Washing- 
ton passed  through  Allentown  on  July  25,  1782.  An  entry  in 
Freeman's  Journal,  dated  July  31,  1782,  reads,  "On  Wednesday 
last  his  excellency  General  Washington  left  this  city  (Philadelphia) 
in  order  to  join  the  main  army  on  the  banks  of  the  Hudson." 

From  an  entry  in  his  expense  account  (the  book  is  to  be 
seen  in  the  Congressional  Library),  it  appears  that  his  stopping 
place  for  the  night  of  the  24th  was  at  Pottsgrove  (now  Potts- 
town),  thirty-six  miles  northwest  of  Philadelphia. 

His  next  stop  was  Bethlehem,  to  reach  which  place  he  must 
have  passed  through  Allentown.  The  Moravian  Diary  says  on 
July  25,  1782,  that  General  Washington  arrived  quite  unexpect- 


46 

edly,  accompanied  by  two  aides  and  no  escort.  These  aides 
were  Col.  Trumbull  and  Major  Walker.  On  the  27th  he  arrived 
at  Newburg. 

It  was  about  this  time  that  a  little  incident  took  place  that 
is  worthy  of  mention.  The  wives  of  two  citizens  of  Allentown, 
who  were  sisters,  frequently  went  horseback  riding  together. 
Tradition  has  not  handed  down  what  habit  they  wore,  only  that 
they  wore  velvet  shoes,  and  that  a  bystander  noticing  this,  ex- 
claimed, "Velveta  shoe!     Ma  maint  sie  hetten  fransela  genung." 

It  might  interest  the  ladies  to  hear  what  the  names  and 
prices  of  dress  goods  were  in  those  days.  In  May,  1774,  Aquila 
Tool  (who,  by  the  way,  was  a  man,  and  not  a  woman),  bought 
at  Allentown,  ^  yd.  of  lawn,  5s. ;  I  yd.  lawn,  3s. ;  tape,  4d. ;  sundries 
for  his  maid,  5s.  8d.;  total,  ^o.  14s.  od. 

John  Lehr  bought  a  black  cravat  for  ^o.  4s.  8d. 

Elizabeth  Reitz  bought  an  apron  pattern  for  ^o.  9s.  6d. ; 
I  yd.  lawn,  3s.  od.;  2^  yds.  tape,  4d.;  thread,  2d.;  i  paper  pins, 
lod.;  bobbins,  6d.;  i  leghorn  hat,  £0.  4s.  6d.;  needles,  2d.;  total, 
£0.  19s.  od. 

Non  so  preties  lace  sold  at  2d.  per  yard;  turkey  stripe  at 
6s.;  shalloon  at  2s.  9d.;  cambric  at  6s.;  silk  ribbon,  is.;  fustian, 
2s.  8d. ;  buckram,  2s. ;  a  black  silk  handkerchief  at  6s. ;  calico  at 
4s.;  swanskin  at  4s.;  blue  ferreting  at  4d.;  plush  at  iis.;  brown 
holland  at  2s. ;  a  silk  Romall  at  5s.  6d. ;  a  thimble,  2d. ;  blue  damask, 
4s.  4d.;  ratinet,  3s.  9d.  a  yard;  a  Barcelona  handkerchief,  6s.; 
Irish  linen,  4s.,  and  nankeen,  3s.  per  yard. 


The  Emaus  Moravian  Congregation. 

(Translated  and  compiled  from  original  sources.) 

By  Rkv.  Ai^len  E.  Abel. 


An  early  historia^i  of  the  Kmmaus  Moravian  congregation 
says:  "It  is  a  characteristic  of  true  love  to  cordially  share  that 
which  one  possesses.  If  one  has  found  a  great  treasure  and 
carries  in  his  heart  at  the  same  time  a  true  love  to  his  own  loved 
ones  and  fellowmen,  he  will  not  only  reveal  this  treasure,  but 
also  share  it  with  them."  This  represents  the  Moravian  Church, 
in  the  eighteenth  century  in  the  American  Colonies,  as  longing 
to  impart  the  treasure  of  the  Gospel  of  Christ,  in  the  forgiveness 
of  sins  to  all  men  who  were  without  the  knowledge  of  salvation, 
or  who  did  not  have  the  means  of  grace. 

The  early  settlers  of  this  part  of  Lehigh  County  were  as  yet 
poorly  or  not  at  all  supplied  with  spiritual  guides  when  the 
Moravian  brethren  settled  on  the  banks  of  the  Lehigh,  at  Bethle- 
hem, and  began  active  missionary  operations  among  neglected 
whites  and  heathen  Indians. 

Among  the  settlers  of  this  section  who  had  a  more  distinct 
part  in  the  organizing  of  this  congregation,  sometimes  called 
"the  Fathers  of  Emmaus,"  were  Sebastian  Knauss  and  Jacob 
Ehrnhardt.  As  their  experiences  can  almost  be  considered 
one  with  the  congregation,  we  will  briefly  note  that  the  former 
was  a  native  of  Wetteravia,  and  brought  up  in  the  Reformed 
Confession.  Coming  to  America  in  1723,  and  while  learning  his 
trade  at  the  home  of  pious  Henry  Antes,  he  also  began  to  profit 
spiritually,  in  so  far  as  to  question  whether  all  was  well  with  him. 

With  his  wife,  visiting  Bethlehem  in  1742,  he  was  stirred 
anew  and  the  work  of  the  Holy  Spirit  became  fruitful  in  his 
finding  his  Saviour.  He  became  a  member  of  the  Moravian 
Church  long  before  the  organization  of  the  Emmaus  Moravian 
congregation. 

So,  also,  Jacob  Ehrnhardt,  the  co-worker  of  Knauss  in  the 
work,  a  native  of  Worms  and  brought  up  in  the  Lutheran  faith, 
came  to  this  country  in  the  fall  of  1739.  His  spiritual  experi- 
ence was  that  of  a  blind  man  groping  in  the  dark.  He  searched 
within  himself  and  without,  heard  now  this  preacher  and  now 
that  one;  he  prayed,  sought  to  leave  the  evil  and  do  the  good, 
but  all  was  not  sufficient  to  quiet  the  unrest  of  his  heart. 


48 

This  man  confesses  that  he  often  prayed  God  that  He  would 
lead  him  to  His  people  or  to  those  who  could  show  him  the  way 
to  salvation. 

In  1742  he  got  to  hear  of  the  Moravian  brethren,  and  was 
soon  convinced  that  they  were  the  people  of  God.  He  invited 
them  to  visit  him,  and  upon  this,  after  a  fortnight,  several,  among 
them  David  Nitschman,  held  a  song  service  in  his  house  (we 
presume  in  the  neighborhood  of  Emmaus)  and  related  many 
things  that  the  Saviour,  through  his  life,  work,  and  sacrifice,  had 
done.  This  visit  was  a  lasting  blessing  to  him  and  his  family 
and  he  felt  blessed  whenever  these  visits  were  repeated.  These 
souls,  thus  called  and  prepared,  were  to  be  the  instruments  in 
God's  hands  for  the  founding  of  this  congregation. 

Through  the  fishers  sent  to  seek  and  to  catch  souls,  as  the 
historian  of  that  day  puts  it,  these  souls  were  rescued  out  of 
their  need  and  perplexity  and  were  shown  the  treasure  in  Jesus 
Christ.  Among  the  first  fishers  or  apostles  in  the  township  of 
Salisbury  are  counted  the  brethren,  Gottlieb  Betzold  and  Leonard 
Schnell. 

Especially  was  the  latter  an  instrument  in  God's  hand-  to 
lead  many  souls  into  the  freedom  of  the  grace  of  God.  In  the  fall 
of  1 74 1  did  God  especially  bless  the  mission  in  Pennsylvania  in  the 
person  of  Count  Zinzendorf ,  who  made  known  his  willingness  to 
preach  the  good  word  of  life  to  all  hungry  souls  wherever  it  was 
desired.  Immediately  the  brethren,  Jacob  Ehrnhardt  and  Sebas- 
tian Knauss,  united  in  a  request  to  Zinzendorf,  to  preach  in  the 
house  of  the  former.  This  request  was  complied  with  and  the 
Count  soon  thereafter  preached  in  Ehrnhardt's  house  to  a  large 
company,  but  very  briefly,  on  the  words,  "Straight  is  the  gate 
and  narrow  is  the  way  which  leadeth  unto  life  and  few  there  be 
that  find  it,"  Matt.  7:  14. 

Not  long  after  the  three  brethren,  Sebastian  Knauss,  Jacob 
Ehrnhardt  and  Andrew  Schaus,  petitioned  Zinzendorf  that  the 
church  at  Bethlehem  might  take  them  under  their  spiritual 
oversight  and  that  through  the  brethren  the  word  of  the  Gospel 
might  be  preached  unto  them.  The  request  was  granted  on  the 
condition  that  everything  should  be  instituted  according  to 
Lutheran  usage.  This  was  agreeable  to  them  and  they  accepted 
the  stipulation  with  gratitude.  Some  time  in  the  fall  of  1742, 
a  log  church  was  begun.  The  land,  about  100  acres,  for  a  church 
and  cemetery  was  donated  by  Jacob  Ehrnhardt  and  others,  and 
as  soon  as  the  same  was  completed  the  brethren  from  Bethlehem 
supplied  them  with  preachers.  Of  these  Leonard  Schnell  preached 
the  most  frequently,  with  blessing  to  many  of  all  sects  and  reli- 
gious creeds,  administering  the  sacraments  according  to  the 
Lutheran  usage,  although  Reformed  and  others  participated. 
This  church  building  was  removed  to  another  site  in  the  rear  of 
the  present   Moravian  chapel  in   1749.     Thus  were  the  people 


49 

of  this  settlement  of  Salisbury  or  Maguntschi  (in  Indian  "the 
feeding  place  of  the  bears"),  cared  for  in  spiritual  things  until 
the  year  1746,  when  they  became  solicitous  for  the  spiritual 
welfare  of  their  children,  in  order  that  these  might  also  be  trained 
in  the  knowledge  and  love  of  God.  For  this  reason  a  schoolhouse 
was  begun  in  1746,  and  an  aged  brother  from  Moravia,  Christopher 
Demuth  by  name,  occupied  the  house  till  the  next  fall. 

In  September  of  that  year  a  beginning  was  made  with  a 
so-called  boarding  school,  the  care  of  the  children  being  given 
into  the  hands  of  Christopher  Heynes,  John  Muenster,  Anton 
Wagner,  and  their  wives,  who  fulfilled  their  office  with  such 
faithfulness  and  energy  that  no  change  was  made  for  three  or 
four  years.  The  historian  relates  that  many  in  the  school  were 
judged  ripe  for  reception  into  the  church  through  baptism,  while 
others  the  dear  Lord  took  to  himself.  The  institution  was 
enlarged  in  1750,  when  the  school  at  Oley  (near  Reading)  was 
transferred  and  united  with  the  one  at  Salisbury.  The  two 
single  brethren,  Schwartz  and  Adam  von  Erd,  accompanied  the 
children  from  Oley.  Some  other  single  brethren,  namely,  Peter 
Braun,  Marc  Ralfs  and  Heppner  Schon,  were  sent  as  their  assis- 
tants. During  this  year  the  families  of  the  Oerters,  Horns  and 
Christopher  Franckens,  were  added  to  the  working  force  of  the 
institution. 

These  children,  some  of  them  of  well-to-do  Philadelphia 
families,  "with  an  allowance  of  meat  twice  a  week"  (!)  were 
abundantly  cared  for,  spiritually  and  temporarily.  The  routine 
of  the  institution  included  morning  and  evening  devotions, 
regular  hours  of  study  and  recreation,  also  their  lovefeasts  in 
their  season.  On  Sundays  a  brother  held  service  in  the  church, 
which  the  children  attended.  This  school  was  successfully 
carried  on  under  the  care  and  guidance  of  these  brethren  and 
sisters  from  1750  to  1753,  when  in  August  the  institution  was 
removed  on  account  of  the  fears  of  an  outbreak  of  the  Indians, 
for  greater  safety,  to  Bethlehem.  The  first  interments  on  the 
Old  Moravian  Cemetery  near  the  school  and  church  building 
were  two  children  of  the  school,  George  and  Elizabeth  Moz. 
In  like  manner  as  the  year  1747  was  characterized  as  a  year 
of  blessing  for  the  children  through  the  founding  of  the  insti- 
tution of  the  boarding  school,  so  also  it  was  propitious  as  a 
year  of  grace  and  blessing  for  the  parents  and  adults.  For  many 
of  those,  who  had  shown  themselves  receptive  to  the  work  of  the 
spirit  and  the  guiding  hand  of  the  church  at  Bethlehem,  not  only 
held  faithfully  to  the  church  services  and  the  teachings  of  the 
cross  of  Christ,  but  also  gave  frequent  intimations  that  they 
were  willing  to  stand  in  closer  relationship. 

So  it  appeared  to  the  bishops  and  elders  of  Bethlehem,  time 
to  gather  this  ripe  grain  into  a  sheaf,  and  they  accordingly  resolved 
to  gather  these  souls  into  a  congregation  and  to  provide  them  with 


50 

the  needful  spiritual  workers  and  oversight.  For  this  purpose 
the  adherents  in  Salzburg  were  called  together  in  a  lovefeast 
on  July  23,  1747,  at  wiiich  the  subject  of  organization  was  dis- 
cussed with  them,  and  it  was  definitely  determined  upon,  that 
the  following  Sabbath  should  be  the  day  for  the  completion  of 
the  organization. 

Accordingly,  on  the  next  Sunday,  July  30,  1747,  there  gath- 
ered in  Bethlehem  all  the  chosen  ones,  some  living  in  Salzburg 
and  some  in  Saucon,  all  being  present  but  those  prevented  by 
sickness.  They  all  attended  morning  service.  Brother  John 
Frederick  Kammerhof  presiding,  basing  his  sermon  on  the  daily 
text:  "They  shake  the  head  at  Him,"  citing  these  lines  which 
the  historian  quotes  :— 

"Gottes  Leiden  und  blutige  Much, 
Reimt  sich  nicht  mit  Philosophic." 

After  the  sermon  an  enjoyable  lovefeast  took  place  in  the 
chapel,  during  which  different  matters  pertaining  to  the  outward 
and  inner  arrangements  of  the  organization  were  discussed.  They 
were  then  introduced  to  the  brethren  and  sisters  who  should  be 
their  leaders.  Thus  Brother  Anton  and  Sister  Elizabeth  Wagner 
were  to  be  their  elder  and  elderess;  John  Munster  and  his  wife, 
Rosina,  deacon  and  deaconess,  and  Brother  Christopher  Heyne 
and  his  wife,  Maria,  were  to  be  superintendents  over  the  boarding 
school  children.  At  6  o'clock  the  whole  congregation  assembled, 
and  the  little  band  from  Salzburg  were  set  in  the  midst,  the  con- 
gregation encircling  them  while  among  others,  this  hymn  was  sung: 

"Die  unumschraenkete  Hand  des  Herrn 
Besorgt  sie  all  in  der  Naeh  und  Fern; 
Und  zuweilen  sammelt  Er  sich  auch  Haufen, 
Die  Er  mit  seinem  Geist  pflegt  zu  taufen. 
Zu  einem  Leibe. 

"Das  werden  Gemeinen  des  Herrn  genennt 
Worin  das  Feuer  des  Herren  brennt : 
Unser  Gotteslaemmlein  wohnt  in  der  Mitten; 
Gnade  und  Wahrheit  fuellt  solche  Huetten 
Und  Fried  und  Freud." 

After  they  had  thus  sung,  Spangenberg  spoke  on  the  daily 
word:  "For  a  pattern  to  them  which  should  hereafter  believe 
on  Him,"  i  Tim.  1:16.  Following  the  address  the  newly  chosen 
brethren  and  sisters  were  ordained  for  the  work  in  Salzburg  by 
the  laying  on  of  hands  by  Bishops  Spangenberg  and  Cammerhoff. 
Finally,  Brother  Sebastian  and  Sister  Anna  Knauss  and  Brother 
Jacob  Ehrnhardt  and  Sister  Barbara  Ehrnhardt  were  set  apart 
by  the  laying  on  of  hands  to  the  office  of  church  wardens. 

This  act  of  organization  was  concluded  with  the  celebration 
of   the    Holy   Communion,    administered    to   the   following   ten 


51 

members  of  the  newly  received  Salzburg  congregation  by  Rev. 
Cammerhoff :  Sebastian  Knauss,  Anna  Knauss,  Jacob  Ehrnhardt, 
Barbara  Ehrnhardt,  Samuel  Eberhardt  Kopp,  Anna  Kopp, 
Conrad  Wezel,  Philip  Kratzer,  Jacob  Herrmann,  Heinrich  Guth. 

The  remaining  charter  members  who  were  enrolled  at  the 
organization  were :  Joseph  Graff,  Susanna  Graff,  Peter  Graff, 
Margareta  Graff,  Johannes  Knauss,  Maria  C.  Knauss,  Jacob 
Loscher  and  wife,  Johannes  Koehler,  Eva  M.  Koehler,  Martin 
Bamberger,  Elizabeth  Bamberger,  Johannes  Landes  and  wife, 
Jacob  Barstler,  Catherine  Albrecht,  George  Hartmann,  Christina 
Hartmann,  Tobias  Weber,  Margareta  Weber,  Peter  Hoffmann 
and  wife,  Rudy  Oberly  and  wife,  Frederick  Rauschenberger, 
Maria  Rauschenberger,  Catherine  Guthin,  Rosina  Pfingstag, 
Rosina  Mosz,  Mrs.  Philip  Kratzer,  Gertrude  Cogin,  Catherine  Wezel. 

Of  the  forty-four  charter  members  of  the  congregation  the 
following  thirteen  are  recorded  in  the  church  register  as  having 
been  buried  on  the  old  cemetery:  Conrad  Wezel,  Anna  C.  Kopp, 
Samuel  Kopp,  Jacob  Ehrnhardt,  Rosa  Mosz,  Johannes  Knauss, 
Catherine  Wezel,  Sebastian  Knauss,  Barbara  Ehrnhardt,  Maria 
Rauschenberger,  Frederick  Rauschenberger,  Johann  Philipp 
Kratzer,  Anna  Catherine  Knauss.  Anton  Wagner,  the  first 
pastor  in  1747  to  1750,  and  again  in  1763  to  1766,  as  also 
Andreas  Langgaard,  pastor  in  1773  to  1777,  lie  buried  on  the  old 
"God's  acre." 

The  total  number  of  communicants,  that  at  the  beginning 
constituted  the  congregation  at  Salzburg,  was  forty-four  persons. 
Another  section  visited  by  the  brethren  from  Bethlehem  was 
"Allemangel,"  so  called  on  account  of  the  poor  returns  from  the 
soil,  now  Lynn  township,  where  a  work  of  grace,  however,  was 
carried  on,  and  from  time  to  time,  believers  from  there  were 
added  to  the  church.  These,  as  far  as  the  serving  of  the  Sacra- 
ments was  concerned,  were  held  as  a  filial  of  the  newly  organized 
work  in  Salzburg.  A  united  communion  was  celebrated  for  the 
first  time,  July  23,  1749,  and  this  relation  continued  with  the  Alle- 
mangel  work  until  October  2,  1751,  when  the  last  communion  was 
held. 

The  desire  to  have  a  strictly  Christian  communion,  apart 
from  the  sinful  influences  of  the  world,  is  not  entirely  unknown 
among  Christians,  even  to-day.  That  persons  belonging  to  the 
Brethren's  Church,  or  any  particular  branch  thereof,  may  have 
for  themselves  and  families  living  either  in  towns  or  on  their  plan- 
tations a  Cure  Animarum,  and  preservation  from  dangerous  and 
hurtful  worldly  connections  and  their  consequences,  which  care 
and  preservation  and  other  spiritual  assistance  they  too  well  recog- 
nize, cannot  be  had  in  their  present  places  of  abode,  living  either 
mixed  with  other  people  of  different  sentiments  and  practises,  or 
on  plantations  too  remote  from  our  churches  and  congregation 
houses,  was  the  object  of  the  church  authorities,  when  on  May  5, 


52 

1758,  a  congregation  village  (Gemein-Ort)  closed  to  all  but  the 
members  of  the  Salzburg  Church  was  formed.  Most  laudatory 
and  exemplary  were  the  town  regulations,  some  of  which  I  take 
the  liberty  of  citing  here,  namely : 

"16.  It  necessarily  follows  that  no  one  can  have  leave  to 
reside  in  this  village,  but  those  who  belong  to  the  Brethren's 
Church,  and  such  who  earnestly  desire  to  live  a  peaceful  and  quiet 
life  in  all  godliness  and  honesty,  whereby  they  for  themselves 
and  their  own  hearts  may  have  benefit;  mutually  build  up  each 
other ;  have  the  word  of  God  richly  dwelling  among  them ;  train  up 
their  children  for  our  Saviour;  preserve  their  sons  and  daughters 
for  Him;  become  a  blessing  and  advantage  to  the  province ;  a  pleas- 
ure to  the  magistrates  and  an  honor  to  our  Saviour. 

"A  second  reason  for  the  building  of  this  village  is  that  its 
inhabitants  in  the  emergencies  and  troubles  of  war  (as  has  been 
the  case  since  the  year  1755)  may  be  in  a  condition  mutually  to 
assist  each  other,  as  well  as  generally  to  render  the  difficulties  inci- 
dent to  human  life  more  supportable. 

"17.  Nothing  shall  be  taught  or  preached  in  Emmaus  but 
what  is  conformable  to  the  Gospel  of  Christ.  Has  any  one  an 
opinion,  peculiar  to  himself,  such  a  person  may  be  indulged  therein, 
provided  he  seek  not  to  propogate  it. 

"23.  No  dancing  matches,  tippling  in  taverns  (except  for 
the  necessary  entertainment  of  strangers  and  travelers),  beer  tap- 
pings, feastings  at  weddings,  christenings,  or  burials,  common 
sports  and  pastimes,  gaming  with  cards,  dice,  etc.  (nor  the  play- 
ing of  the  children  in  the  streets),  shall  be  so  much  as  heard  of 
among  the  inhabitants.  They  whose  inclination  is  that  way  bent, 
cannot  live  in  Emmaus. 

"34.  All  fraud  and  overreaching  of  one's  neighbor;  likewise 
any  premeditated  mischief  done  to  the  wood,  fences,  fields,  fruit 
trees,  etc.,  belonging  to  the  owner  of  the  soil  or  any  other,  shall  be 
deemed  infamous;  as  generally  all  other  gross  heathenish  sins,  to 
wit :  gluttony  and  drunkenness,  cursing  and  swearing,  lieing  and 
cheating,  pilfering  and  stealing,  quarreling  and  fighting,  shall  not 
be  heard  of  in  Emmaus ;  he  that  is  guilty  of  such  cannot  be  suffered 
to  continue  here." 

The  town  regulations  were  subscribed  by  Sebastian  Knauss, 
Andrew  Giering,  Bernhard  Winsch  and  Matthias  Wesner. 

The  village  was  laid  out  by  a  survey  in  December  of  the  year 
1758.  Two  houses  were  built  in  1759.  Not  until  1761  did  the  vil- 
lage, however,  receive  its  new  Moravian  name,  when  at  a  lovefeast 
on  April  3rd,  conducted  by  Bishop  Spangenberg,  it  was  announced 
that  the  place  hitherto  called  Maguntschi  and  Salzburg  was  now 
to  be  called  by  the  Scriptural  name  of  Emmaus.  He  read  on  this 
occasion  an  original  hymn  beginning: 

**Als  Jesus  auferstanden  war, 
Reist  von  Jerusalem  ein  Paar." 


53 

The  years  1775-1778  were  hard  years  for  the  people  of 
Btnmaus,  on  account  of  their  conscientious  scruples  against  oaths. 
Thus,  for  example,  on  April  4,  1778,  twelve  members  of  the 
Emmaus  congregation  were  imprisoned  at  Easton  and  kept  on 
bread  and  water  until  the  29th,  because  they  refused  to  take  the 
oath  of  allegiance;  in  September  thirteen  others  repeated  the 
experience.     Among  them  was  Francis  Boehler,  their  minister. 

In  1766  the  third  church  was  built,  a  few  rods  east  of  the 
present  structure,  which  was  erected  in  the  year  1834,  while  the 
Sunday  School  chapel  was  built  in  1876,  to  which  an  addition  was 
made  in  1906.  With  the  increasing  of  the  population  of  the 
country  it  became  increasingly  difficult  during  the  years  1833-35 
to  debar  non-Moravians  from  the  village,  but  it  was  some  years 
before  the  town  was  formally  thrown  open  to  settlers. 

While  the  old  church  edifices  have  crumbled  before  the 
mouldering  hand  of  time  and  none  of  the  original  homes  of  the 
founders  of  Emmaus  are  standing,  we  are  thankful  that  that  spirit- 
ual building,  the  church  of  the  living  God,  for  which  they  prayed 
and  labored,  has  been  handed  down  to  us  as  a  precious  inheritance, 
the  candle  of  the  Lord,  in  the  hearts  and  hands  of  their  children's 
children,  who,  as  a  large  posterity  to  this  day,  cherish  the  works  of 
the  worthy  founders  of  the  Emmaus  congregation. 


Pennsylvania  Germans  in  Public  Life 
During  the  Colonial  Period. 

By  Charlks  R.  Roberts. 


A  sentence  in  a  recent  magazine  article  that  may  be  said  to 
have  inspired  this  paper,  ran  as  follows:  "The  English  were 
leaders  and  the  Germans  were  followers  in  the  early  days." 

While  we  must  admit  that,  in  the  main,  this  statement  is  true, 
yet  there  are  many  examples  of  men  of  German  blood  who  were 
leaders  and  men  of  prominence  in  Colonial  times.  The  English 
certainly  were  in  control  of  affairs,  through  the  Proprietary 
party.  But  the  advent  of  thousands  of  Germans,  who,  influenced 
by  Sauer's  paper,  published  in  Germantown,  affiliated  politically 
with  the  Quakers,  in  opposition  to  the  Proprietary  party,  brought 
into  prominence  a  number  of  German  citizens. 

This  alliance  enabled  the  Friends  to  hold  a  controlling  voice 
in  the  affairs,  not  only  of  this  county,  as  a  part  of  old  Northamp- 
ton, but  in  the  province,  being  for  years  the  ruling  power  in  the 
Assembly. 

Samuel  Wharton,  a  prominent  writer  of  that  time,  whose 
prejudices  were  evidently  on  the  side  of  the  Proprietary  party, 
proposed  that  the  children  of  the  Germans  should  be  obliged  to 
learn  in  the  English  tongue,  and  that,  while  this  was  being  accom- 
plished, the  Government  should  suspend  their  right  of  voting 
for  members  of  the  Assembly;  and  that,  the  sooner  to  incline  them 
to  become  English,  they  should  be  compelled  to  make  all  bonds 
and  other  legal  writings,  in  the  English,  and  that  no  newspaper 
or  almanac,  in  German,  be  allowed  circulated  among  them,  unless 
accompanied  by  its  English  translation. 

However,  the  conditions  under  which  a  German,  or  any  other 
person,  for  that  matter,  was  permitted  to  vote,  appear  to  me  to 
have  been  so  stringent,  as  to  exclude  a  large  number  from  the 
right  of  voting.  An  act  regulating  the  election  of  members  of 
the  Assembly  passed  in  1705,  provided  "that  no  Inhabitant  of 
this  Province  shall  have  the  Right  of  electing,  or  being  elected, 
unless  he  or  they  be  natural  born  Subjects  of  England,  or  be 
naturalized  in  England,  or  in  this  Government,  and  unless  such 
Person  or  Persons  be  of  the  age  of  twenty-one  years,  or  upwards. 


55 

and  be  a  Freeholder  or  Freeholders  in  this  Province,  and  have 
Fifty  Acres  of  Land  or  more  well  seated,  and  Twelve  Acres 
thereof  or  more  cleared  and  improved,  or  be  otherwise  worth 
Fifty  Pounds,  lawful  Money  of  this  Province,  clear  Estate,  and 
have  been  resident  therein  for  the  Space  of  Two  Years  before 
such  Election." 

The  formation  of  Northampton  County  out  of  Bucks  in  1752 
was  a  political  plan,  originated  by  the  Proprietary  party,  who 
hoped,  by  setting  off  the  Germans  in  the  new  county,  and  thus 
depriving  the  Quakers  of  their  support,  to  restore  the  control  of 
old  Bucks  to  the  Government  party.  This,  which  may  be  said 
to  have  been  the  first  political  scheme  in  which  our  ancestors  in 
this  locality  were  interested,  apparently  did  not  at  once  succeed, 
as  at  the  first  election  in  Northampton  County,  held  at  Easton 
on  October  i,  1752,  William  Craig  was  chosen  Sheriff;  Robert 
Gregg,  Benjamin  Shoemaker  and  Peter  Trexler,  County  Com- 
missioners, and  James  Burnside  for  Member  of  Assembly.  Burn- 
side  was  a  Moravian,  who  resided  near  Bethlehem,  and  a  native 
of  Ireland.  He  was  the  Quaker  candidate,  and  defeated  his 
opponent,  William  Parsons,  the  founder  of  Easton,  by  upwards 
of  300  majority.  The  election  was  carried  on  with  great  heat 
and  acrimony,  each  party  accusing  the  other  of  fraud  and  foul 
play,  and  the  candidates  themselves — particularly  Parsons — 
showing  great  excitement  and  anger.  Parsons  defeated  Burn- 
side  in  1753,  but  in  1754,  Burnside  was  again  elected.  He  died 
in  1755,  and  was  buried  at  Bethlehem. 

In  1755,  William  Edmonds,  also  a  Moravian,  was  elected  by 
621  votes  to  represent  Northampton  in  the  Assembly.  He  was 
again  a  candidate  in  1756,  but  the  Proprietary  party  elected 
William  Allen,  the  founder  of  Allentown,  who  resided  in  Phila- 
delphia, and  had  then  a  hunting  lodge  near  the  banks  of  the 
Jordan  Creek,  the  site  of  which  is  now  within  the  limits  of  this 
city.  Residence  in  a  county  was  not  then  a  requisite  for  election 
to  office,  and  Allen  was  chosen  member  for  Cumberland  County 
on  the  same  day. 

The  following  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  Rev.  William 
Smith,  later  Provost  of  the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  addressed 
to  Mr.  Vernon,  at  Easton,  dated  October  15,  1756,  shows  the 
situation  at  that  time.  He  says:  "Mr.  Vernon.  It  gave  us 
all  great  Pleasure  to  find  you  return  Mr.  Allen  as  your  Repre- 
sentative, but  as  he  was  engaged  before  for  Cumberland  he  was 
obliged  in  Honour  to  stand  for  that  county.  I  suppose  Edfnonds 
will  endeavor  with  all  his  might  to 'get  in,  but  I  hope  the  County 
will  never  disgrace  itself  by  putting  in  any  Moravian  whose 
principle  for  ought  we  know  may  be  Popish.  They  are  against 
Defence  and  you  know  even  refused  to  sell  Powder  to  Protestants 
tho'  it  is  said  they  furnished  the  Indians  with  it.  How  true  these 
Things  are  you  know  best,  but  it  would  be  a  Shame  to  send  down 


56 

a  Moravian  at  such  a  dangerous  Time.  You  should  chuse  some 
Man  of  Weight  who  can  serve  you  with  the  Government  when 
you  want  any  Thing  in  Philadelphia.  We  have  therefore  thot 
that  no  Person  would  be  so  fit  as  Mr.  Plumsted.  He  is  known  in 
your  County,  has  Lands  in  it,  and  is  a  very  honest  Man  and  can 
be  of  great  use  to  the  County.  I  hope  you  will  support  him  with 
all  your  Interest,  and  get  all  your  ffrds  to  join  you.  It  happens 
luckily  that  Mr.  Plumsted  sets  out  to-morrow  on  Business  for 
Cedar-Creek  and  will  be  at  Kaston.  For  Gods-Sake  stir  your- 
selves for  without  we  get  Men  in  the  Assembly  who  will  defend 
the  Country  we  shall  soon  be  ruined." 

Plumsted  was  elected  over  Edmonds  in  a  hot  contest,  but 
his  election  was  contested  by  Daniel  Brown,  John  Jones  and 
Samuel  Mechlin,  on  the  ground  "that  one  of  the  inspectors,  not- 
withstanding his  oath,  destroyed  several  of  the  tickets  which  were 
in  favor  of  William  Edmonds,  and  were  delivered  to  said  inspector, 
and  that  one  person  was  seen  to  deliver  tickets  repeatedly  to  the 
inspector,  and  thirdly,  that  a  great  number  of  tickets  were  folded 
up  together,  some,  one  in  another,  and  some  two  in  one,  which 
were  received  by  the  inspectors  as  one  ticket,  &c.,"  and  Plumsted 
never  was  seated,  for,  nearly  a  year  after,  the  Assembly  decided 
against  him. 

William  Allen,  in  writing  to  a  friend  in  England,  in  a  letter 
dated  at  Philadelphia,  November  5,  1756,  which,  I  believe,  has 
never  appeared  in  print,  throws  light  on  the  subject.  He  says 
in  part:  "Reverend  Sir:  I  have  been  soUicited  for  some  years 
past  to  serve  in  the  Back  Country  for  an  Assemblyman,  but  have 
declined  it,  imagining  that  I  could  not,  among  such  a  perverse 
people,  be  able  to  render  my  country  service.  However,  this 
year,  as  I  conceived  our  all  was  at  stake,  and  that,  as  the  Quakers 
had  promised  to  give  up  their  seats,  there  might  be  a  probability 
of  doing  good,  I  gave  the  people  of  Cumberland  county  (the 
inhabitants  of  which  are  composed  chiefly  of  Presbyterians) 
a  conditional  promise,  to  serve  them,  that  is,  that  in  case  good 
men  were  returned  or  even  a  small  number  of  them  in  the  other 
counties,  I  would  no  longer  decline  acting,  if  I  was  chosen.  Upon 
this,  I  was,  by  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  county,  not  one  free- 
holder dissenting,  chosen  one  of  their  Representatives.  All  our 
elections  being  on  the  same  day,  I  was  without  my  knowledge, 
privily  or  procurement,  chosen  also  for  the  County  of  Northamp- 
ton. I  was,  when  I  perceived  how  the  election  had  gone  in  other 
count^^s,  at  first  of  the  mind  not  to  serve  for  either,  being  assured 
that,  with  men  of  such  bad  disposition  I  could  not  be  able  to 
bring  about  anything  that  would  be  truly  useful  to  the  colony. 
However,  at  the  earnest  sollocitation  of  many  good  men,  I  was, 
at  length,  prevailed  on  to  go  into  the  house  and  made  my  election 
for  the  county  of  Cumberland:  upon  which  the  people  of  North- 
ampton chose  Mr.  Plumstead,  late  Mayor  of  this  city,  a  gentleman 


57 

zealous  for  the  defense  of  his  country,  (who  thereby  had  rendered 
himself  obnoxious  to  the  Quakers ;)  the  vote  for  Plumstead  being 
463,  and  his  antagonist,  one  Edmonds,  a  Moravian,  having  only 
255,  and  two  thirds  of  these  unnaturalized  Moravians  and  other 
Germans,  who  have  no  right  to  vote  by  our  laws :  yet,  I  say,  our 
honest  Assembly  refused  to  admit  Mr.  Plumstead,  though  duly 
returned  by  the  Sherrif ,  under  pretense  that  there  was  a  petition 
to  them  on  account  of  an  undue  election,  though  this  petition 
was  signed  only  by  three  Moravians,  and  have  hitherto  kept  him 
out  of  his  seat,  and,  I  presume,  will  continue  to  do  so." 

The  next  member  of  the  Assembly  from  Northampton  County 
was  Ivudwig  Bitting,  who  was  elected  in  1758  and  re-elected  in 
1759  and  1760.  He  was  a  resident  of  Upper  Milford  Township, 
and  probably  owed  a  great  deal  of  his  prominence  to  the  fact  that 
he  was  a  son-in-law  of  Rev.  John  Philip  Boehm,  the  pioneer 
Reformed  preacher.  In  1744,  he  settled  on  Hosensack  Hill,  in 
the  present  Lower  Milford  Township,  Lehigh  County. 

Following  him  came  John  Moore,  in  1761  and  1762.  Then 
came  John  Tool,  of  Upper  Saucon,  in  1763.  As  early  as  1737  he 
settled  on  a  tract  of  370  acres  at  the  foot  of  the  Lehigh  Mountains, 
at  the  place  now  called  Wittman's.  His  successor  was  George 
Taylor,  who  served  from  1764  to  1769.  He  was  followed  by 
William  Edmonds  for  the  second  time,  serving  from  1770  to  1774. 
Then  a  German  came  to  the  front  in  the  person  of  Peter  Kachlein 
in  1775,  which  year  closes  the  Colonial  period. 

In  looking  over  the  names  of  the  Justices  of  Northampton 
County  under  the  Proprietary  and  Colonial  Government  from 
1752  to  1775,  we  find  that  one-third  were  of  German  blood.  That 
these  men  were  of  such  character  and  ability  as  to  be  appointed 
to  the  office  of  Justice,  marks  them  as  leaders  in  their  several 
communities.  There  appears  to  have  been  no  law  regulating 
the  number  of  Justices  in  a  county,  but  every  section  had  its 
Justice,  who,  at  the  time  when  court  was  held,  journeyed  to 
Easton,  where  no  less  a  number  than  three  were  empowered  to 
hold  the  several  courts.  The  courts  of  Northampton  County  were 
held  in  the  different  taverns  at  Easton,  until  the  completion  of 
the  courthouse  in  1766.  In  speaking  of  them  a  certain  writer 
says  :  ' '  Their  sessions  were  extremely  ceremonious  and  imposing. 
At  the  present  day,  no  official,  however  exalted,  would  think  of 
assuming  such  awful  dignity  as  was  then  habitual  with  the 
Justices  of  the  courts  of  Northampton  County.  On  their  passage 
to  the  place  of  holding  court — preceded  and  followed  by  con- 
stables with  badges  and  staves  of  office — these  provincial  Justices, 
in  their  severe  gravity  and  cocked  hats,  were  fearful  and  wonder- 
ful personages  to  behold.  But  when  they  mounted  the  bench, 
and  the  court  officers  commanded  silence,  then  was  the  hour  of 
their  triumph;  for  the  loyal  courtiers  of  King  George,  as  he  sat 
upon  his  own  throne  at  Windsor  Castle,  scarcely  regarded  their 


58 

sovereign  with  more  awe  and  adoration,  than  the  townspeople, 
and  the  litigants  gave  to  those  worshipful  wearers  of  the  county 
ermine,  as  they  sat  in  solemn  session,  in  the  tavern  court-room 
at  Baston." 

Be  that  as  it  may,  let  us  turn  our  attention  to  those  Justices 
who  were  of  German  blood,  more  particularly  those  who  resided 
in  the  townships  which  now  constitute  our  present  Lehigh  County. 
In  1752,  appear  the  names  of  Lewis  Klotz  and  Conrad  Hess. 
Klotz  was  a  resident  of  Macungie  Township,  whom  we  have  men- 
tioned in  a  previous  paper.  He  was  also  a  County  Commissioner 
in  1754.  In  1753,  appears  the  name  of  Peter  Trexler.  He  was 
one  of  the  first  County  Commissioners  in  1752,  as  we  have  men- 
tioned. In  1753,  he  was  appointed  by  the  Council  one  of  the 
Commissioners  to  lay  out  a  road  from  Baston  to  Reading.  He 
was  also  one  of  the  six  trustees  of  the  school  erected  at  Baston 
in  1755  by  subscriptions  from  the  locality  and  from  a  society 
formed  in  Bngland,  whose  purpose  was  to  promote  the  instruction 
of  poor  Germans  in  Pennsylvania,  to  which  even  the  King,  George 
the  Second,  had  given  iJiooo.  Trexler  was  a  man  of  great 
influence  among  the  Germans  of  the  county,  and  later,  in  the 
French  and  Indian  War,  commanded  a  company  that  was  called 
into  service  by  Benjamin  Franklin. 

George  Rex,  of  Heidelberg  Township,  was  appointed  one  of 
the  Justices  of  Northampton  County  in  1757.  He  was  the  largest 
individual  landowner  in  Heidelberg  Township,  owning  415  acres  in 
1764.  He  died  in  1773.  He  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  men 
of  the  northern  end  of  the  county  in  Colonial  times,  and  that  he 
had  considerable  influence  is  proven  by  the  fact  that  with  Peter 
Trexler,  he  recommended  that  a  fort  be  built  on  the  other  side  of 
Drucker's  mill,  on  the  Blue  Mountains,  stating  that  there  was  a 
good  spring  there,  and  an  eminence  which  commanded  on  all  its 
sides  a  large  extent  of  land. 

In  1 761,  appear  the  names  of  Jacob  Arndt  and  Henry  Geiger. 
Arndt  lived  near  Baston,  but  Geiger  was  a  resident  of  Heidelberg 
Township.  He  was  commissioned  an  Bnsign  in  the  Second  Penna. 
Regiment,  First  Battalion,  commanded  by  Lieut.  Colonel  Conrad 
Weiser,  on  December  20,  1755,  and  is  recorded  as  a  good  officer. 
On  the  2oth  of  November,  1756,  he  was  stationed  at  Teets,  with 
eight  men,  as  the  records  show.  Teed's  blockhouse  was  near  Wind 
Gap  and  was  an  important  point.  Some  superior  ofiicer  wrote 
the  query  concerning  this  post,  "If  the  detachment  at  Teet's 
can  defend  itself."  No  doubt  it  could,  under  this  gallant  officer. 
Geiger  was  commissioned  Lieutenant  on  December  21,  1757,  in 
Capt.  Bdward  Ward's  company,  stationed  west  of  the  Susque- 
hanna River.  On  February  5,  1758,  he  was  in  command  of 
twelve  men  at  a  blockhouse  situated  between  Forts  Allen  and 
Bverett,  twenty  miles  from  Fort  Allen  and  ten  miles  from  Fort 
Everett,  and  was  furnished  by  his  commissary,  Jacob  Levan,  Bsq., 


59 

with  four  months'  provisions.  Geiger  was  probably  for  many 
years  one  of  the  most  important  figures  in  the  upper  end  of  the 
county,  and  subsequently  became  a  Colonel  in  the  Revolutionary 
War. 

In  1764,  Christopher  Waggoner,  of  Lower  Saucon,  became  a 
Justice.  In  1 766,  appears  the  name  of  Henry  Kooken,  or  Kochen. 
He  was  a  resident  of  Upper  Saucon,  where  he  was  taxed  in  1768 
for  fifty  acres  of  land.  He  built  a  grist  and  saw  mill  on  the  site 
of  Dillinger's  mill.  The  name  would  indicate  that  he  was  of 
Holland  Dutch  origin. 

Other  German  names  which  appear  in  1774  ^^  the  list  of 
Justices  are  Peter  Kachlein,  Jacob  and  Isaac  Lerch,  John  Wetzel 
and  Felix  Lynn.  Still  other  names  of  Germans  who  attained  to 
office  might  increase  the  number  of  those  whom  we  are  trying 
to  save  from  oblivion,  among  them  Christian  Rinker,  County 
Commissioner  in  1753,  John  Rinker,  Sheriff  in  1756  and  1758, 
and  Jacob  Rex,  County  Commissioner  in  1758. 


Comparative  Calculations  and  Remarks 

on  Internal  Improvements  by  Roads,  Canals  and  River  Naviga- 
tion ;  Illustrative  of  the  Advantages  to  be  Derived  from 
the  Improvement  of  the  River  Lehigh. 


[You  are,  no  doubt,  aware  that  our  Secretary,  Mr.  Roberts, 
is  untiring  in  his  search  for  something  new;  probably,  I  should 
say  old,  or  better  still  new  old,  which  he  thinks  will  be  of  interest 
to  the  society.  Sometime  ago,  in  Philadelphia,  he  found  a  pam- 
phlet of  this  character,  and  on  the  plea  that  he  reads  most  of  the 
papers  at  Historical  Society  meetings,  and  that  he  wants  to  give 
others  a  chance,  he  asked  me  to  read  the  pamphlet.  The  pam- 
phlet is  entitled  "Comparative  Calculations  and  Remarks  on 
Internal  Improvements  by  Roads,  Canals,  and  River  Navigation; 
Illustrative  of  the  Advantages  to  be  Derived  from  the  Improve- 
ment of  the  River  Lehigh,"  and  it  was  printed  by  William  Brown 
in  Philadelphia  in  1821.  The  facts  which  led  to  the  issuing  of 
this  pamphlet,  I  think,  were  about  like  this:  Coal  had  been 
discovered  in  the  mountains  near  Mauch  Chunk.  Certain  far- 
seeing  men  perceived  its  value,  provided  a  market  could  be 
supplied  to  buy  it.  The  coal  was  in  the  mountains  in  the  wilder- 
ness, and  the  market  was  Philadelphia,  distant  80  miles  by  land 
and  120  by  water.  The  means  of  communication — the  Delaware 
and  Lehigh  Rivers  or  overland.  The  Lehigh  River  was  not 
naturally  navigable  to  boats  of  sufficient  size  to  transport  coal 
profitably.  To  get  the  coal  to  market  was  the  problem,  and  the 
answer  was,  to  improve  the  Lehigh.  To  this  end  an  act  of  the 
legislature  was  procured  in  181 8  "to  improve  the  navigation  of 
the  River  Lehigh,"  and  coal  properties  were  leased.  The  next 
step  was  to  get  money.  This  was  done  by  a  "campaign  of 
education"  carried  on  by  means  of  pamphlets.  The  result  was 
the  formation  of  two  companies — The  Lehigh  Navigation  Com- 
pany, in  August  of  1 818,  and  The  Lehigh  Coal  Company,  in 
October  of  the  same  year. 

By  reason  of  more  extensive  improvement  being  necessary 
and  various  haps  and  mishaps,  the  capital  of  these  companies 
was  exhausted  and  "to  raise  the  wind"  the  companies  agreed  to 
amalgamate  under  certain  conditions;  consolidate  is  the  favorite 
word  now,  I  think. 


6i 

A  portion  of  the  necessary  capital  having  been  raised,  365 
tons  of  coal  was  sent  to  Philadelphia,  overstocking  the  market. 

A  further  increase  of  capital  was  required,  and  to  meet  the 
necessity  the  proposed  consolidation  of  the  two  companies  was 
effected  under  the  name  of  the  Lehigh  Coal  and  Navigation  Com- 
pany in  May,  1821,  and  stock  subscriptions  were  solicited.  To 
sell  the  stock,  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  managers  again  resorted 
to  the  pamphlet  as  a  means  of  publicity,  and  by  the  coincidence 
of  the  date  of  the  pamphlet  and  that  of  the  company's  necessity, 
I  suppose  the  one  before  us  was  published  to  aid  in  the  work. 
It  is  interesting  in  many  respects,  particularly  so  in  the  side 
lights  it  throws  on  the  natural  and  business  conditions  in  this 
part  of  the  State  in  182 1.  It  also  shows  us  that  there  is  nothing 
new  under  the  sun,  for  the  methods  of  the  promoter  of  1821  are 
the  same  as  those  of  the  promoter  of  to-day,  save  in  the  matter 
of  headlines,  gorgeous  typography,  illustrations  and  red  ink. 
Permit  me  to  read  the  pamphlet,  from  all  of  which  I  suppose  you 
feel  that  investment  in  the  "improvement  of  the  River  Lehigh" 
would  be  desirable. 

Time  has  shown  most  convincingly  that  the  unknown  writer 
of  this  pamphlet  was  sound  in  his  argument  and  his  proposition 
has  been  proved. — Ralph  R.  Metzger.] 

Comparative  Calculations,  &c. 

At  a  time  of  general  difficulty,  when  the  mind  is  bent  on  the 
subject  of  political  economy,  the  following  calculations  and 
remarks,  tending  to  shew  one  source  from  which  prosperity  may 
be  expected  to  arise,  may  not  be  unacceptable  to  the  public. 

As  the  correctness  of  the  subjoined  table,  and  the  subsequent 
remarks  and  conclusions  drawn  from  it,  depend  on  the  correctness 
of  the  data  upon  which  the  calculations  are  made,  they  are  here 
given,  that  every  one  may  have  the  opportunity  of  examining  and 
judging  for  himself. 

Land  Carriage. 
Feed  for  a  team  of  four  horses  daily,  (and  hauling  one  and 

a  half  ton  out  and  home  ten  miles)     -        -        -        -  $0  80 

Daily  wear  and  tear  of  the  waggon  and  harness,  -  o  20 

Loss  of  horses  10  per  cent,  and  interest  of  capital,      -  018 

Shoeing  horses,  -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -  o  16 

Wages  of  carter,  per  day,         __-_--  o  91 

Total  cost  to  haul  one  and  a  half  ton  ten  miles,  out  

and  back,         --------  $2  25 

Which  is  $1  50  a  ton  per  day's  work,  or  fifteen  cents  a  ton  per  mile. 
The  expense  on  a  canal  and  tow-path,  according  to  Robert 
Fulton's  account,  in  his  letter  to  Gouverneur  Morris,  of  22d 
February,  18 14,  as  representing  the  experience  of  Europe,  is  one 
cent  a  ton  per  mile. 


62 

The  common  lock  is   usually  eighty  feet  long,   and   about 
seventeen  feet  wide,  the  width  being  restricted  by  the  difficulty 
of  constructing  and  hanging  larger  gates,  so  as  to  be  safe  and 
permanent;  and  by  the  length  of  time  it  would  require  to  fill 
locks  of  larger  dimensions,  through  the  puddle  gates,  which  must 
necessarily  be  small  from  being  made  either  in  the  large  gates, 
or  in  sluices  through  the  sides  of  the  lock.     The  maximum  ton- 
nage in  such  a  lock  would  be  about  thirty  tons,  and  the  time  of 
passing  it  ten  minutes;  whereas  the  Lehigh  lock  can  be  made  of 
any  length  or  width,  without  weakening  the  work,  or  sensibly 
increasing  the  time  of  passing,  which  will  occupy  from  one  and  a 
half  to  three  minutes,  if  th*e  lock  were  130  feet  long  and  25  feet 
wide,  which  would  be  large  enough  to  admit  a  steam  boat  and  a 
tow  boat,  of  one  hundred  tons  burthen,  at  once. 
Rivers  with  slack  water  navigation  and  common  locks, 
five  hands  to  a  boat  of  thirty  tons  burthen,  make  a  trip 
100  miles,  and  return  (including  three  days  in  passing 
and  repassing  108  locks)  in  ten  days,  is  fifty  days,  at  one 
dollar  a  day,  is       -        -        -  .     -        -        -        -        -  $50  00 

Boat  hire,  or  wear  and  tear  per  day,  one  dollar;  and  for 

ten  days  ----------  10  00 

Costing  two  dollars  a  ton,  or  seven  cents  a  bushel  for  the 
thirty  tons,  or  two  cents  per  ton  a  mile,      - 

Rivers  with  slack  water  navigation,  and  Lehigh  locks  and 
steam  boats,  five  hands  to  steam  and  tow  boat,  at  one 
dollar  a  day  each,  is-- 

Fuel,  twenty-five  bushels  coal  daily,  at  six  cents, 

Interest,  and  wear  and  tear  of  boats  daily,   - 


$60 

00 

$5 
I 

5 

00 
50 
50 

$12 

00 

Daily  cost,       -------- 

The  boats  will  make  a  trip  from  Mauch  Chunk  to  Philadelphia 
and  back  (120  miles)  in  five  days,  including  eight  hours  in  passing 
and  repassing  the  locks.  Five  days,  at  a  cost  of  twelve  dollars  a 
day,  is  sixty  dollars,  for  a  boat  of  one  hundred  tons  of  produce,  is 
fifty  cents  a  ton  for  120  miles,  being  a  half  cent  a  mile  per  ton. 

Lehigh  river  improved  with  a  descending  navigation  only, 
from  Mauch  Chunk  to  Philadelphia.  This  navigation  takes 
eleven  locks  and  dams,  and  the  remainder  of  the  work,  will  be 
small  wing  dams  and  open  sluices,  of  which  about  three-fourths 
are  done. 

Four  hands  to  a  set  of  arks,  in  length  80  or  90  feet,  and 
width  18  feet,  and  sinking  18  inches,  will  carry  50  tons 
of  coal,  and  make  a  trip  in  (average)  10  days.  Hence  4 
hands,  10  days,  at  one  dollar  per  day,  is  40  dollars,  equal 
per  ton,      ------  $0  80  and  per  bu.  $0  3 


A  TABLE, 

Representing  the  cost  of  transporting  A  TON  of  produce,  &c.  from 
different  parts  of  the  State  of  Pennsylvania  to  Philadelphia,  and 
returning,  by  Land,  by  Locking  Rivers  with  common  Locks,  by 
Canal  and  Tow  Path,  by  Rivers  improved  with  Lehigh  Locks  for 
Steam  Boats,  and  a  downward  navigation  of  the  River  Lehigh, 
exclusive  of  Tolls. 


DISTANCE         1 

Mrs 

•0^ 

d  0 

•a- 

=a  . 

^  .  §« 

1 

it 

«5 

J3 

|1« 

pi 

cts. 

SfH'B  e 

From  Philadelphia  to  the  follow- 

By  Schuyl- 

^Sai 

ing  places,   and  back  to   Phila- 
delphia. 

kill  and 
Middletown 

By  Lehigh 

6^ 

CQOfN 

1^ 
a! 

oaHu 
Cts. 

ver  L 
d  des< 
Navi 
I -4th 

Land  Water 

Land  Water 

■^^a- 

MILES 

ES. 

$  Cts. 

Easton,      ----- 

- 

60 

75 

9 

I  .  20 

75 

37i 

Reading,    -      -      -      -      - 

56 

60 

— 

8.40 

I  .  20 

60 

Putz   Furnace,    the   head] 

of  the  Schuylkill  Navi-  |^ 

gation  and  Coal  Land-  | 

90 

100 

1350 

2  .00 

ing,  -----         J 

Mauch-Chunk,     or     Coal  1 
Landing  on  Lehigh,        ) 

— 

— 

80 

120 

12.00 

2  .40 

1 .  20 

60 

1-33 

Landing    on    Lehigh     i2'| 
miles  from  Wilkesbarre  I 

— 

— 

105 

145 

15-75 

2  .90 

1-45 

72 

on  Susquehanna  River] 

Landing    on    Lehigh    2 1  ] 

miles  from  Berwick  on  Y 

— 

— 

!  100 

140 

15.00 

2.80 

1.40 

70 

Susquehanna  River,       ] 

1 

Middletown,     by     Leba- ) 
non  Canal,  -      -      -          j 

90 

120 

13-50 

2.40 

1 .  20 

Sunbury  on  Susquehanna  \ 
River,    -      -      -      -         j 

140 

180 

— 

196 

21 . 

3.60 

1.80 

98 

Berwick,             do. 

217 

|II2 

161 

16.80 

4-342.  17 

80 

Wilkesbarre,     do. 

244 

1  117 

157 



4.882.44 

79 

Muncy  Creek,  do.               ^ 

1 
1 

here  is  Plaster  of  Paris  [ 

165 

205 

221 

24-25 

4. 102.05 

I .  loV 

in  abundance,  -      -         j 

Mouth    of    Sinnamahon-S 

I 
1 

ing    and    the    Susque-  Y 

280  1    — 

296 



5  .  60  2  .  80 

1.48 

hanna  River,    -      -         j 

;i 

Pittsburg   and    Lake    Erie, 

500  !j 

516 



1000  5  .00 

2.58 

D.  C. 

From  New  York  to  Albany,  sloops  charge  a  freight  of         2  50  a  ton. 

From  Albany,  by  the  Canal  to  Lake  Erie  (exclusive  of  Toll)  3  60 

Nett  cost  of  freight  of  produce,  from  Lake  Erie  to  New 

York,         ----------6  10  per  ton. 

Freight  from  New  York  to  Philadelphia         -        -        -        i  50 


Cost  to  Philadelphia,  free  from  Toll 


$7   60 


64 

It  takes  6000  feet  of  lumber  for  one  set 

of  arks,  at  six  dollars  a  thousand ;  and 

one  carpenter  15  days  in  making  the 

arks,   at  $1   25   per  day.     Wear  and 

tear    of    spikes    and    iron,    and    oars, 

$1   75-     fo6  50,        -        -        -        -  $1    13  $04 

Cost,  including  total  loss  of  lumber,  is  — —  

per  ton  i  93  per  bu.  07 
6000  feet  of  lumber,  from  one  set  of  arks, 

will  sell  at  $5  a  thousand,  is  -        -  60  02 

Nett  cost  per  ton,  $1   33  or  per  bu.  cts.  5 

From  the  table  it  is  evident,  that  the  advantage  of  water 
carriage  over  land  carriage  is  as  fifteen  to  one,  and  in  navigation 
adapted  to  steam  boats  by  Lehigh  locks,  as  thirty  to  one.  It 
also  appears,  that  it  costs  to  transport  one  ton  516  miles  by  water, 
but  $2  58;  whereas  17  miles  land  carriage  on  one  ton,  amounts 
to  $2  55. 

The  value  of  lands  in  the  interior  of  the  state,  will  be  found 
to  depend  on  a  communication  by  water  with  a  market.     For 
example. 
The  expenses  on  a  ton  from  Lake  Brie  to  New 

York,  will  be  (including  a  toll  of  one  cent  a 

mile  on  the  canal,  $3  60)        ------  $9  70 

Add  freight  from  New  York  to  Philadelphia,  -        -  i   50 

Total  cost  of  one  ton  from  Lake  Erie  to 

Philadelphia,     -        -        -        -        -        -        -        -       $11   20 

Land  carriage  for  70  miles  -        -        -        -         10  50 

Toll,  one  cent  per  mile        -----  70 

is  $11   20 


Hence  it  follows,  that  goods  can  be  brought  from  Lake 
Erie  to  Philadelphia,  via  New  York,  on  the  canal,  at  the  same 
expense  that  they  can  be  hauled  70  miles  on  a  turnpike;  and 
consequently  the  market  at  Philadelphia  would  be  supplied  with 
breadstuffs  from  New  York;  or  rather,  the  trading  interest, 
together  with  its  attendant  population,  would  be  transported  to 
New  York,  where  the  produce  of  the  country  could  be  afforded 
cheap,  and  enable  the  farmers  and  country  merchants  to  pay  for 
the  imported  goods  they  stand  in  need  of. 

The  expense  of  land  carriage  would,  at  the  present  prices  of 
grain,  consume  the  whole  value  of  wheat,  and  bring  the  owner 
in  debt,  to  take  it  a  greater  distance  than  180  miles;  for  36  bushels 
make  a  ton,  and  at  75  cents  per  bushel,  would  be  worth  but  27 
dollars,  which  is  the  bare  expense  of  the  team  for  that  distance, 


65 

exclusive  of  toll.  Rye,  in  the  same  manner,  would  be  eaten  up 
by  expenses,  in  a  transportation  of  120  miles,  the  price  of  it 
being  fifty  cents. 

Lands  then,  at  a  greater  distance  than  120  miles,  can  have 
no  benefit  from  the  Philadelphia  market,  unless  by  water  commu- 
nication. But  with  this  advantage,  articles,  which  are  now 
limited  in  their  consumption  to  the  immediate  vicinity  of  their 
growth,  could  be  transported  to  great  distances  with  profit. 
Potatoes  would  cost,  including  one  cent  per  mile  toll,  but  $7  74 
per  ton,  which,  allowing  36  bushels  to  the  ton,  is  only  twenty-one 
and  a  half  cents  per  bushel,  if  brought  from  Pittsburg,  a  distance 
estimated  by  water  at  516  miles. 

Coal  also,  is  an  article  of  too  much  weight  in  proportion  to 
its  value,  to  bear  a  transportation  by  land,  the  nearest  mines 
being  80  miles  from  market.  The  immense  mines  of  it  in  this 
state,  are  therefore  of  no  value  at  present;  but  make  the  water 
communication,  and  they  at  once  become  a  source  of  employment 
and  wealth,  not  only  to  the  proprietors,  but  to  the  city  and  state, 
as  besides  supplying  the  Atlantic  cities  with  a  fuel,  cheap,  and 
abundant;  the  coal  is  peculiarly  fitted  for  exportation,  from  its 
requiring  only  one-tenth  of  the  bulk  and  one-fifth  of  the  weight, 
to  produce  the  same  heat  with  wood.  The  Lehigh  coal  mines 
alone,  uppn  the  completion  of  the  navigation  of  that  river,  will  be 
equal  in  value  to  a  large  portion  of  the  state,  as  may  be  seen  by 
the  following. 

It  will  require  620  hands,  and  170  yoke  of  oxen,  to  quarry, 
haul,  build  the  boats,  and  do  all  the  necessary  work  to  take  to 
Philadelphia  2,000,000  bushels  of  coal  annually,  which  at  the 
present  price  of  30  cents  per  bushel,  would  produce  600,000  dollars. 
800,000  bushels  of  wheat,  at  75  cents,  will  produce  the  same  sum, 
600,000  dollars.  But  at  15  bushels  to  the  acre,  the  average  crop, 
this  would  require  53,333  acres  of  land;  and  supposing  the  farms 
to  be  divided  into  120  acres  each,  and  one-third  annually  in  crop, 
it  would  be  160,000  acres,  and  at  three  hands  to  a  farm,  would 
require  4000  hands,  and  at  least  as  many  cattle  and  horses — 
whereas  to  produce  an  equal  amount  from  coal  will  require  the 
labour  of  only  620  men,  and  170  yoke  of  cattle.  Would  not  the 
coal  mines,  with  a  navigation  to  market,  be  worth  intrinsically 
at  least  as  much  money  as  the  160,000  acres  of  land  in  cultivation? 
But  what  would  they  each  cost?  Twenty  dollars  per  acre  for 
cultivated  land,  80  to  100  miles  from  Philadelphia,  that  will  raise 
wheal,  must  be  considered  a  fair  average  price ;  this  would  amount 
to  3,200,000  dollars.  Whereas  the  cost  of  the  lands,  river  improve- 
ments, and  all  else  necessary  to  the  Lehigh  establishment,  will  not 
exceed  500,000  dollars. 

The  owners  of  property  in  the  city  and  country,  will  naturally 
enquire  wRich  is  the  best  route  and  plan  of  improvement  to  effect 
a  general  water  communication.     This  will  appear  from  the  table. 


66 


But  the  individuals  disposed  to  invest  money  in  such  an 
undertaking,  would  enquire  into  the  prospects  of  profit  to  be 
derived  from  each. 

The  following  will  shew  the  sources  of  profit  on  the  Lehigh. 

The  company  own  all  the  coal  mines  that  are  known  and 
convenient  to  the  river,  which  undoubtedly  contain  a  supply  for 
the  market  for  ages:  and  experience  has  shewn  that  a  profit  of 
ID  cents  a  bushel  may  be  calculated  upon  from  it,  at  the  lowest 
price  that  it  can  be  expected  to  be  sold  at.  With  respect  to  the 
demand,  it  has  been  estimated  that  Philadelphia  and  New  York 
consume  together,  annually,  cords  of  wood,  600,000 

And  the  Eastern  towns,  to  Boston  inclusive,  300,000 


Making  together,      ------  cords,     900,000 


which  would,  at  10  bushels  to  the  cord,  amount  to  9,000,000  of 
bushels,  and  supposing  only  one-fourth  of  this  to  be  substituted 
by  coal  for  a  number  of  years,  would  be  2,500,000  bushels,  which 
at  10  cents  profit,  would  be   -----        -        $250,000 

50  millions  of  feet  of  lumber  were  ascertained  to  have 
passed  the  Trenton  Bridge,  in  1816.     When  Tehigh  is 
improved,  the  lumber,  from  the  large  forests  abound- 
ing on  that  river,  could  be  sent  to  market  in  every 
month,  except  winter,  and  would  probably  supply  half 
the  market,  say  25  millions,  at  $1  per  1000,  toll  is     -       25,000 
The  water  power  of  the  river,  which  is  estimated  to  drive 
200  rolling  mills,  or  be  equal  to  the  work  of  6000  horses,  or  30,000 
men,  will  certainly  be  brought  into  use  in  the  manufacture  of 
iron   (of  which  there  is  an  inexhaustible  supply  of  ore  on  the 
Lehigh)  and  other  articles,  would  either  sell  for  a  large  sum,  or 
produce  a  handsome  annual  income. 

A  large  proportion  of  the  Susquehanna  trade  may  likewise 
be  calculated  upon  to  add  to  the  profits  of  the  river;  but  the  coal, 
independent  of  every  other  source,  is  a  sufficient  guarantee  for 
an  income  commensurate  with  the  most  extravagant  views  of 
capitalists. 


Jerusalem  Church,  Eastern  Salisbury,  Lehigh  County,  Pa. 

Erected  1847. 


Rkv.  C.  J.  Cooper,  D.  D. 
(1907-        ) 


History  of  Jerusalem  Church, 
Eastern  Salisbury. 

By  Rev.  C.  J.  Cooper,  D.  D. 

The  IvUtheran  and  Reformed  congregations  of  Jerusalem 
Church,  also  known  as  "Die  Morgenland  Kirche,"  of  Eastern 
Salisbury,  no  doubt,  to  distinguish  it  from  the  Jerusalem  Church, 
of  Western  Salisbury,  were  privileged,  by  the  grace  of  God,  to 
celebrate  their  Sesqui-Centennial,  July  24-25,  1909. 

It  is  right  and  proper  that  some  account  should  be  given  of 
the  history  of  these  congregations.  While  we  are  happy  to  find 
that  a  good  beginning  was  made  in  1 759  to  make  a  proper  record  of 
the  origin  of  these  congregations,  it  is  a  matter  of  great  regret 
that  so  little  was  recorded  during  the  first  century  of  their  exis- 
tence. Only  since  1848  have  the  records  been  kept  with  some 
degree  of  regularity  and  completeness.  It  will,  therefore,  not 
be  possible  to  give  a  full  and  satisfactory  history,  because  the 
necessary  records  are  wanting.  This  fact  should,  however,  teach 
the  present  generation  the  very  important  lesson  to  see  that, 
from  this  time  forth,  the  records  of  all  departments  of  the  congre- 
gations should  be  carefully  made  and  faithfully  preserved. 

The  EARI.Y  Settlement. 

On  March  18,  1732,  Thomas  and  Richard  Penn,  the  Pro- 
prietaries of  Pennsylvania,  issued  a  warrant  to  the  Surveyor 
General  to  lay  out  a  tract  of  5,000  acres  in  this  part  of  the  State 
to  Thomas  Penn  and  heirs.  Thomas  Penn  assigned  this  warrant 
to  Joseph  Turner,  and  Joseph  Turner  assigned  the  same  to  William 
Allen,  of  Philadelphia,  September  10,  1735.  Other  warrants 
were  issued  to  Thomas  Greame  for  2,000  acres,  James  Bingham 
for  2,000  acres,  Casper  Wister  for  1,500  acres,  James  Hamilton 
for  1,000  acres,  Patrick  Greame  for  1,000  acres;  and  in  the  same 
year  3,000  acres  in  500-acre  parcels  were  granted  on  the  Lehigh 
River. 

Soon  after  1735,  these  tracts  were  opened  for  settlement,  and 
many  of  the  earlier  settlers  in  the  lower  counties  of  Bucks  and 
Philadelphia,  as  well  as  the  newer  immigrants,  began  to  occupy 
these  hills  and  valleys.     C.  A.  Groman,  Esq.,  a  native  of  these 


70 

parts,  and  an  eminent  attorney  of  our  county,  has  with  much 
labor  and  expense  searched  the  original  records  of  the  State  and 
Counties  of  Bucks,  Northampton  and  Lehigh,  for  the  purpose 
of  tracing  the  titles  to  the  different  properties,  and  it  is  his  ex- 
pressed opinion  that  most  of  the  early  settlers  in  these  parts  were 
squatters.  In  the  spring  of  1736,  William  Allen  confirmed  200 
acres  to  Solomon  Jennings,  which  in  1757,  passed  into  the  hands 
of  the  Geissinger  family,  in  whose  hands  they  remained  for  gener- 
ations, until  within  recent  years  they  passed  into  other  hands,  and 
are  now  owned  by  the  New  Jersey  Zinc  Company.  Twenty  years 
after  these  parts  were  thrown  open  to  settlers,  Northampton 
County  was  formed  out  of  Bucks  County,  by  Act  of  Assembly, 
March  11,  1752,  when  James  Hamilton  was  Lieutenant  Governor, 
Thomas  and  Richard  Penn,  Proprietaries,  and  George  II,  King 
of  England. 

In  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  October  3,  1752,  "The  petition 
of  divers  persons,  inhabitants  of  a  tract  of  land,  eight  miles  long 
by  three  miles  broad,  bounded  on  one  side  by  the  West  branch 
of  the  Delaware  River  (Lehigh  River)  and  on  the  other  side  by 
the  respective  townships  of  Upper  Saucon,  Upper  Milford,  Ma- 
cungie  and  Whitehall,  praying  that  the  same  may  be  laid  out  in 
a  township  to  be  called  Salisburg,  was  allowed"  by  the  Court  at 
Easton.  Adam  Plank  was  appointed  the  first  constable  for  the 
township,  and  on  September  16,  1755,  Peter  Bogert  was  chosen 
to  this  office.  March  25,  1758,  Bernhard  Straup  and  Jacob 
Ehrenhart  were  appointed  Overseers  of  the  Poor  by  the  Court. 

In  1756,  Bethlehem  was  a  town  of  510  inhabitants.  In  those 
days  the  roads  were  few.  In  1745,  a  road  was  granted  from 
Macungie  to  the  Lehigh  at  Bethlehem  and  laid  out,  but  for  15 
years  it  was  no  more  than  a  bridle  path,  and  it  was  after  1760 
before  it  became  in  any  sense  a  wagon  road. 

The  name  of  Salisbury  has  had  different  spellings,  and 
among  our  German  people  it  has  been  and  is  yet  called  Salzburg. 
Some  claim  it  is  of  English  origin,  while  General  W.  W. 
Davis,  in  his  history  of  Bucks  County,  claims  that  its  proper 
spelling  is  Salzburg,  so  called  after  a  place  in  South  Austria. 
The  more  generally  accepted  spelling  is  Salisbury,  and  because 
the  original  warrants  for  land  were  given  to  Englishmen  princi- 
pally, it  is  supposed  that  the  township  derived  its  name  from  the 
Salisbury  in  England.  In  the  petition  of  1752  for  a  township 
the  name  is  given  "Salisburg." 

This  petition  for  a  township  was  handed  to  the  Court  at 
Easton.  We  looked  there  to  find  the  original  document,  as  it 
would  be  a  matter  of  great  interest  to  know  who  the  signers  were 
in  1752,  but  we  failed  to  find  it.  The  record  of  the  Court  granting 
the  petition  is  preserved,  but  not  the  petition  itself. 


71 


Religious  Conditions. 


According  to  Rev.  William  Smith,  D.  D.,  the  first  Provost  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  the  Church  Membership  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1759,  was  estimated* as, follows: — 

Presbyterians,  55,000;  Quakers,  50,000;  Lutherans,  40,000; 
Reformed,  30,000;  Mennonites,  30,000;  Episcopalians,  25,000; 
Catholics,  10,000;  Moravians  and  Dunkards,  5,000. 

Both  the  Lutheran  and  the  Reformed  congregations  in 
Eastern  Pennsylvania  were  then  already  organized  into  a  Synod 
and  a  Coetus,  and  were  actively  engaged  in  caring  for  the  tens  of 
thousands  of  their  adherents,  scattered  far  and  wide  throughout 
this  and  other  provinces,  most  of  whom  driven  by  religious  and 
political  necessities  from  their  homes  beyond  the  sea,  had  but 
recently  come  to  America,  and  here  in  Pennsylvania  sought  and 
found  a  place  of  refuge  and  of  peace.  The  great  majority  of 
them  were  poor  people.  Those  who  had  possessions  in  the  old 
country,  in  many  cases,  had  to  give  them  up  or  sacrifice  them, 
or  if  they  were  fortunate  enough  to  bring  them  with  them  were 
swindled  out  of  them  in  securing  passage,  or,  robbed  after  they 
reached  this  land.  They  sought  for  themselves  the  hills  and 
valleys  where  water  and  timber  were  found  in  abundance.  Though 
preceded  by  the  English,  Scotch  and  Welsh  in  coming  to  America 
in  large  numbers,  Mr.  Eckley  B.  Coxe,  late  of  Jeddo,  told, the 
writer  while  traveling  on  a  railroad  train,  the  story  how  the 
Pennsylvania  Germans  came  into  possession  of  the  rich  and  fertile 
valley  lying  between  the  South,  or  Lehigh  Mountain  and  the 
Blue  Ridge.  He  said,  when  the  English  and  Scotch  Irish  came 
and  saw  the  immense  forests  and  contemplated  the  enormous  task 
of  clearing  this  valley,  they  despaired  of  the  task  and  moved  on  to 
other  and  lighter  soil.  Then  later  on  the  Germans  came  along 
and  prospected  in  this  same  valley,  and  with  good  common  sense 
judged  that  where  these  mighty  trees  of  the  forest  grew  there 
must  also  be  good  virgin  soil,  and  being  brought  up  to  labor 
diligently  with  their  hands, "  as  well  as  with  their  brains,  they 
were  not  too  lazy,  nor  too  stupid  to  go  to  work  and  clear  the  land, 
and  now  they  held  it  and  their  children  would  continue  to  hold 
it  for  all  time  to  come.  These  Germans  brought  with  them  their 
Bibles,  large  substantial  folios,  with  lids  of  wood  and  bound  in 
hogskins,  their  catechisms,  hymn  books,  Stark's  Gebetbuch  and 
Arndt's  Wahres  Christenthum,  and  these  they  treasured,  used 
and  applied.  After  securing  for  themselves  a  shelter,  a  home, 
they  invariably  longed  for  and  also  secured  for  themselves  and 
their  children  a  church  and  a  school.  In  some  instances  the 
Lutherans  would  provide  their  own  church,  and  the  Reformed 
did  the  same;  in  other  localities  the  Lutherans  and  Reformed 
would  unite  in  building  their  church  and  provide  a  school  for 
their  children.     The  harvest  in  those  days  was  great,  but  the 


72 

laborers  were  few — and  the  people  had  to  do  the  best  they  could. 
There  were  no  colleges  and  seminaries  to  provide  a  ministry — 
the  mother  churches  in  Europe  did  what  they  could  to  send  men 
and  means  to  carry  on  the  planting  of  the  church  in  this  land ;  but 
these  were  far  from  being  adequate.  Unprincipled  men,  time 
and  men  servers,  took  advantage  of  the  situation  and  passed 
themselves  off  as  preachers,  and  the  people  in  their  desire  to  hear 
the  Gospel,  and  to  make  use  of  the  sacraments,  were  willing  to 
put  up  with  such  who  claimed  to  be  ministers  of  the  Gospel, 
though  they  had  no  credentials  testifying  as  to  their  character 
and  profession.  In  this  way  the  people  were  often  imposed  upon, 
and  paid,  in  many  instances,  dearly  for  their  experience. 

At  this  time,  1759,  the  only  other  churches  in  this  vicinity 
were  the  Blue  Church ;  Lower  Saucon  Reformed ;  Jordan  Church ; 
Easton;  Jerusalem,  Western  Salisbury;  Macungie  or  Lehigh 
Church;  Egypt;  Zionsville  and  Old  Williams  Township.  The 
Moravians  at  Bethlehem  and  Emaus,  also  had  organizations. 

Why,  since  there  were  Lutheran  and  Reformed  congregations 
in  Jerusalem  Church,  Western  Salisbury,  not  more  than  a  few 
miles  distant,  organized  in  1741,  these  congregations  in  the 
Eastern  part  of  the  same  township  should  be  organized  18  years 
later,  remains  unanswered.  We  know  that  in  other  cases, 
difficulties  arose,  parties  were  formed,  and  separations  took 
place,  but  whether  this  was  the  case  here,  we  have  no  evidence. 
We  have  in  the  archives  of  these  congregations  the  original 
record  begun  in  1759.  This  is  well  preserved  and  is  kept  for 
safe  keeping  in  the  fireproof  safe  of  Mr.  James  W.  Larash.  The 
record  is  in  the  handwriting  of  Rev.  Daniel  Schumacher,  and 
begins  "In  the  Name  of  God,  Amen."  "The  Christian  Evan- 
gelical Lutherans  and  Reformed,  both  adhering  to  the  Protestant 
religion,  have  together  erected  a  church  in  Salzburg  township  in 
Northampton  County,  in  the  year  of  the  Lord  1759.  This  church 
was  built  after  the  Indians  had  again  ceased  to  burn  and  to  kill 
in  this  neighborhood,  and  by  poor  people  only,  who  were,  how- 
ever, assisted  by  their  brethren  with  small  contributions." 

"The  first  preacher  on  the  part  of  the  Reformed  Congregation, 
at  the  dedication  of  this  new  church,  was  the  Rev.  Rudolph 
Kidwiler,  popularly  known  as  the  Swiss  preacher.  A  Lutheran 
minister  had  also  been  selected  for  the  dedication,  but  it  was 
not  possible  for  him  to  be  present.  The  second  preacher  on  the 
part  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  was  the  Rev.  Daniel  Schu- 
macher. His  text  at  the  dedication  of  this  new  church  was  from 
the  Prophet  Haggai,  Chap.  2 :  vs.  7,  8  [9].  'The  glory  of  this 
latter  house  shall  be  greater  than  of  the  former,  and  in  this  place 
will  I  give  peace.'  Held  1759,  Sixth  Sunday  after  Trinity,  in 
the  afternoon  at  2  o'clock." 

"The  first  elders  and  deacons  were  Christian  Kaub  and 
Matthis  Gurth;  Conrad  Jacobi  and  John  George  Weber." 


73 

"The  deacons  who  were  elected  at  the  beginning  of  this  new 
church,  have  the  right  for  themselves  and  also  for  those  elders  and 
deacons  who  shall  succeed  them,  to  sit  side  by  side  in  their  pew, 
and  the  offerings  that  shall  be  gathered  at  the  service  held  by 
either  preacher,  shall  be  carefully  preserved  by  both  congregations 
and  elders  and  applied  to  the  church.     [Signed] 

Christian  Kaub,  Lutheran  deacon 
*George  Weber 

Christian  Liesz 

Conrad  Jacobi,  Reformed  deacon." 


The  Rev.  Daniel  Schumacher,  after  preaching  three  years 
m  Nova  Scotia,  was  obliged  to  leave  there  because  the  people 
were  too  poor  to  support  him.  He  came  to  New  York,  and 
from  there  the  Rev.  John  A.  Weygand  recommended  the  theo- 
logical student,  Schumacher,  to  the  Ministerium  for  ordination. 
For  some  reason  Schumacher  was  never  received  into  the  Minis- 
terium. It  is  known  that  he  served  a  number  of  congregations 
in  Berks  and  Lehigh  Counties  from  1 754-1 774.  From  1755-58, 
he  was  pastor  of  Trinity  Church,  Reading,  and  also  served  other 
congregations  in  that  vicinity.  He  labored  in  Egypt,  and  at 
one  time  had  as  many  as  sixteen  congregations.  His  remains 
are  buried  in  the  graveyard  of  the  Weisenburg  Church,  Lehigh 
County.  The  Schumachers  and  Shoemakers,  of  Lehigh  County, 
are  his  descendants.  In  the  Theological  Seminary,  at  Mt.  Airy, 
Philadelphia,  his  private  baptismal  records,  containing  several 
thousand  baptisms,  are  found.  He  wrote  a  very  legible  hand. 
His  records  in  this  congregation  dated  from  July  22,  1759,  the 
day  of  dedication,  with  one  or  two  interruptions  to  1768. 

Baptisms  were  generally  administered  by  him  in  church  on 
the  occasion  of  his  visits  on  Sunday.  When  performed  elsewhere 
he  indicates  the  place.  The  first  baptism  recorded  is  that  of 
George  David,  a  son  of  David  and  Martha  Hamman,  born  July 
II,  1759;  baptized  July  22,  1759.  The  sponsors  were  George 
Spohn  and  his  wife,  Maria.  The  names  of  families  that  appear 
in  this  old  record,  besides  those  mentioned,  are  Kaub  (may  this 
not  be  the  original  spelling  of  the  name,  now  so  numerous  in  this 
vicinity.  Cope?),  Hertzog,  Eberhard,  Weber,  Miller,  Eniich, 
Schoener,  Giesz,'  Claus,  Boehm,  Wagner,  Hartman,  Duerr, 
Smetzer,  Brasser,  Lazarus,  Kotz,  Stahl,  Gorges,  Nagel,  Theyle, 
Mertz,  Rentzheimer,  Rassmus,  Gernet,  Lehr,  Stuber,  Appel, 
Rubb,  Schneider,  Kaiper,  Grumbach,  Ziesloff,  Schwencker. 

In  1769,  Rev.  Lizce  baptized  two  children.  The  last  bap- 
tism in  this  book  was  on  May  21,  1786,  when  Rev.  Carl  Christoph 
Goetz,  preacher  at  Jordan,  baptized  John  George,  son  of  John 


♦"Because  George  Weber3  separated  from  our  church  Christian  Liesz,   whose  name 
comes  next,  was  elected  in  his  place  a  Lutheran  deacon." 


74 


William  Kaup  (or  Cope)  and  wife,  Maria  (nee  Rentzheimer),  born 
January  12th.  The  sponsors  were  George  Kaup  and  Christina 
Rentzheimer. 

There  is  only  one  list  of  communicants  found  in  this  record, 
dated  April  23,  1791.  The  names  of  those  who  presented  them- 
selves are: 


Male. 


Female. 


I. 

Elder  Henry  Rentzheimer. 

I. 

Catharine  Rentsheimer. 

2. 

Michael  Stahl. 

2. 

Elizabeth  Gernet. 

3- 

Christian  Gernet, 

3- 

Elizabeth  Stoehr. 

4- 

Peter  Stoehr. 

4- 

Elizabeth  Gernet. 

5- 

John  Gernet. 

5- 

Margaret  Rau. 

6. 

Conrad  Rau. 

6. 

Margaret  Gernet. 

7- 

George  Gernet. 

7- 

Barbara  Dur. 

8. 

George  Ueberroth. 

8. 

Maria  Teyler. 

9- 

George  Duer. 

9- 

Agnes  Ueberroth. 

10. 

George  Kaup. 

10. 

Susanna  Kaup. 

II. 

Frederick  Kaup. 

II. 

Catharine  Moren. 

12. 

Peter  Nagel. 

12. 

Maria  Frone  Arassmuss 

13- 

Maria  Margaret  Teyle. 

14. 

Hannah  Nagel. 

Of  this  list  of  communicants,  it  will  be  of  interest  to  learn 
that  "Elder  Henry  Rentzheimer,"  whose  name  appears  first  on 
the  list,  was  a  clock  maker,  and  quite  recently  we  saw  one  of  his 
clocks,  containing  chimes,  in  the  home  of  Mrs.  Elmer  Reiss,  near 
Friedensville,  made  by  Henry  Rentzheimer  in  1789,  for  John 
Ehschelman,  the  great-great  grandfather  of  Mrs.  Reiss. 

,  In  connection  with  the  name  Gernet  it  will  also  be  of  interest 
to  state  that  Mrs.  Elmer  Reiss  has  in  her  possession  a  nest  of 
handsome  pewter  dishes,  that  have  come  into  her  hands  from  the 
Gernet  family,  with  whom  she  is  related.  Mrs.  Reiss  also  has 
several  chests  made  in  the  i8th  century. 

In  the  rear  of  the  book  is  the  following  record : 

"Alpha  Omega." 

"A  list  of  articles  that  have  been  bequeathed  and  contributed 
in  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  as  follows: — 

"Anno  1759,  Elizabeth  Ottern  gave  a  white  table  cloth  for 
the  Lutheran  congregation.  Anno  1760,  Martin  Schneider  gave  a 
pewter  cup  for  use  in  the  Holy  Sacrament  of  the  Altar,  for  the 
Lutheran  congregation,  and  also  a  white  cloth." 

From  1 791  to  1848,  a  period  of  57  years,  there  is  no  record  of 
any  kind  to  be  found.  Nor  have  we  thus  far  come  across  any 
account  why  there  is  this  break  of  over  half  a  century.  We 
know  that  this  was  the  period  of  rationalism  and  indifferentism, 
during  which  many  pastors  and,  therefore,  also  many  congre- 
gations, became  lax  in  matters  of  religion. 


Rev.  Joshua  Ybager. 
(1843-1883.) 


76 

Another  fact  may  have  had  its  influence.  In  1793,  a  con- 
gregation was  organized  and  a  church  building  erected  in  Upper 
Saucon,  where  Friedensville  is  now  located,  called  Frieden's 
Church.  Tradition  has  it  that  the  old  church,  erected  in  1759, 
became  dilapidated,  and  the  people  were  too  poor  to  erect  a  new 
one  and  thus  were  led  to  throw  in  their  resources  and  member- 
ship with  this  new  enterprise,  and  that  the  regular  services  ceased 
in  Jerusalem,  but  that  burials  were  continued  in  the  burial  ground. 
Rev.  John  Conrad  Yeager  and  his  son,  Rev.  Joshua  Yeager,  served 
Frieden's  congregation,  m  connection  with  a  number  of  others, 
for  93  years.  It  is  very  probable  that  this  section,  contiguous  to 
Frieden's  congregation,  was  under  the  pastoral  care  of  the  Yeagers 
during  this  interim  of  57  years.  In  the  Memoirs  of  Rev.  Joshua 
Yeager,  by  A.  R.  Home,  D.  D.,  we  find  the  statement  that  "he 
also  served  Jerusalem  Church  in  Salisbury  from  1843  to  1883." 

Under  Rev  Joshua  Yeager's  ministry,  new  life  and  activity 
manifested  themselves,  so  that  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1847,  on 
Ascension  Day,  May  13,  the  cornerstone  of  the  present  church 
was  laid,  and  the  same  was  dedicated  on  Saturday  and  Sunday, 
October  9th  and  loth.  Services  were  held  on  both  days  in  the 
forenoon  and  afternoon.  The  Building  Committee  consisted  of 
two  Davids  and  two  Solomons,  mz.,  David  Giesz  and  David  Moritz, 
Solomon  Diehl  and  Solomon  Boehm.  These  facts  we  gathered 
from  the  Friedensbote  and  Republikaner  of  1847,  in  which  papers 
were  inserted  the  advertisements  of  the  cornerstone  laying  and 
of  the  dedication,  over  the  signatures  of  the  above  Building 
Committee.  It  may  be  of  interest  to  read  these  advertisements 
as  they  appeared  in  the  papers  in  German  and  here  translated 
into  English. 

ECKSTKlNIvEGUNG. 

Dounerstag,  den  i3ten  Mai  (Himmelfahrtstag)  soil  der  Eck- 
stein zur  Erbauung  der  neuen  gemeinschaftlichen  Kirche  im 
oestlichen  Theil  von  Salzburg  Township,  Lecha  County,  gelegt 
werden,  wobei  mehre  fremde  Prediger  gegenwaertig  sein  werden. 
Die  Bethlehemer  Musikbande  wird  ebenfalls  zugegen  sein.  Die 
Nachbarn  und  das  Publikum  sind  hoeflichst  eingeladen  beizu- 
wohnen. 

a^rEs  wird  nicht  erlaubt  starkes  Getraenk  daselbst  zu  ver- 
kaufen. 


David  Moritz 
David  Giesz 
Solomon  Boet 
Solomon  Diehl 


David  Giesz  ^  T3o,,r^^;o+^^ 

Solomon  Boehm      '  Baumeister. 


77 

Translated : 

Cornerstone  Laying. 

On  Thursday,  May  13th  (Ascension  Day),  the  cornerstone 
for  the  erection  of  the  new  Union  Church,  in  the  Eastern  part  of 
Salisbury  Township,  Lehigh  County,  will  be  laid,  when  a  number 
of  ministers  from  other  parts  will  be  present.  The  Bethlehem 
Band  will  also  be  present.  The  neighbors  and  the  public  in 
general  are  cordially  invited  to  be  present. 

B^^-The  selling  of  strong  drink  on  this  occasion  is  forbidden. 

David  Moritz,      ^ 
David  Giess,  I  Building 

S01.OMON  BoEHM,    (      Committee. 
S01.OMON  DlEHL,    J 

KiRCHWElHE. 

Am  Samstag  und  Sonntag  den  9ten  und  loten  October,  soil, 
so  der  Herr  will,  die  neuerbaute  gemeinschaftliche  Kirche  in 
Salzburg  Township,  Lecha  Co.,  dem  Dienste  des  Drieinigen 
Gottes  feierlichst  geweiht  werden,  bei  welcher  Gelegenheit,  an 
beiden  Tagen,  Morgens  und  Nachmittags  Gottesdienst  sein  wird. 
Alle  Christliche  gesinnite  Leute  in  unserer  ganzen  Umgegend, 
sind  freundschaflichts  eingeladen,  diesem  unserm  Kirchweih- 
Fest,  welches  durch  Musick  u  Gesang  noch  erhoeht  werden  soil, 
beizuwohnen,  und  die  Gemeine  mit  ihrer  Gegenwart  zu  erfreuen. 
Alle  sogenannte  "  Market endern "  wird,  jedoch  zu  gleicher 
Zeit  angezeigt,  dasz  es  ihnen  durchaus  nicht  gestattet  werden 
wird,  geistige  Getraenke  irgend  einer  Art  an  der  Kirche  oder  in 
der  Naehe  derselben,  zu  verkaufen.  Gegen  solche,  die  etwa 
keine  Ruecksicht  auf  dieses  Verbot  nehmen  wollen,  und  sich  doch 
unterstehn .  starke  Getraenke  zu  verkaufen,  wird  mit  Ernst  und 
Strenge  nach  den  Gesetzen  verfahren  werden. 

David  Giesz        ") 
David  Moritz       I  Bau- 
Solomon  Diehl     [        meister. 
Solomon  Boehm  J 
Translated : 

Church  Dedication. 

On  Saturday  and  Sunday,  October  9th  and  loth.  Providence 
permitting,  the  newly  erected  Union  Church,  in  Salzburg  Town- 
ship, Lehigh  County,  will  be  most  solemnly  dedicated  to  the 
service  of  the  Triune  God,  when  there  will  be  divine  services  on 
both  days,  forenoon  and  afternoon.  All  the  good  Christian 
people  in  our  whole  neighborhood  are  most  cordially  invited  to 
attend  and  to  rejoice  our  congregations  with  their  presence  on 
this  our  feast  of  dedication,  that  will  be  further  enhanced  through 
singing  and  music. 


Rev.  Prof.  W.  Wackernagel,  D.  D. 
(1882-1886.     1901-1902.) 


79 

The  so-called  "  subtlers"  are,  however,  notified  at  this 
time,  that  they  are  positively  forbidden  to  sell  any  spirituous 
liquors  of  any  kind  at  or  near  the  church.  Those  who  will 
pay  no  attention  to  this  order  and  will  yet  undertake  to  sell 
strong  drink,  will  be  prosecuted  with  rigor  and  severity  according 
to  the  law. 

David  Gmss,         ^ 

David  Moritz,       [Building 

S01.OMON  DiEHi.,    I      Committee. 

SoivOMON  BOEHM,   J 

Through  the  kindness  of  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Brobst,  the  widow  of 
Rev.  S.  K.  Brobst,  the  founder  of  Der  Jugend-Fruend,  who 
kindly  consulted  the  first  numbers  of  the  paper,  founded  in  1847, 
we  are  able  to  give  the  names  of  those  who  officiated  on  the  occasion 
of  the  dedication  of  the  present  church.  On  Saturday,  October 
9th,  Rev.  Joseph  S.  Dubbs,  a  Reformed  minister,  preached,  and  a 
Rev.  Oberholzer.  Of  what  denomination  he  was  a  minister  is 
not  stated.  The  Oberholzer  name  is  prominent  among  the 
Mennonites,  and  it  is  possible  that  he  belonged  to  that  denom- 
ination. On  Sunday,  Revs.  Leonard  and  Joshua  Yeager  officiated. 
Rev.  Leonard  was  a  Moravian  minister.  The  act  of  dedication 
was  performed  on  Sunday  forenoon  by  Rev.  Joshua  Yeager,  the 
Lutheran  pastor.  The  Jugend-Fruend  states  that  "in  general 
good  order  was  observed  and  many  people  were  present." 

In  the  secular  papers  of  that  day,  that  we  consulted,  we 
failed  to  find  any  account  of  this  occasion.  Those  were  the  days 
of  the  Mexican  War  and  all  available  space  was  taken  up  with 
the  exciting  accounts  of  the  battles  fought  and  the  victories  won. 

Church  Records. 

Nor  have  we  been  able  to  find  any  account  as  to  the  cost  of 
the  building.  The  records  that  have  come  into  pur  hands,  con- 
tain the  baptisms  and  communicants.  The  title  page  of  the 
record,  begun  in  1848,  is  as  follows: 

"Kircherbuch  der  Deutsch  Reformirten  Gemeinde  in  Salz- 
burg Township,  Lehigh  Co.,  Pa." 

The  first  entry  says:  "The  following  persons  went  to  the 
table  of  the  Lord  on  the  occasion  of  the  first  communion  on  the 
part  of  the  Reformed,  October  22,  1848:  George  Doney,  David 
Eschbach,  Samuel  Rinker,  Louis  Siegfried,  Solomon  Diehl, 
William  Kram,  John  Diehl,  Marie  Trumbauer,  Sarah  Eschbach, 
Catharine  Erich,  Barbara  Diehl,  Catharine  Glecknern,  Letische 
Diehl,  Jane  Moritz,  Susana  01b,  Levina  Jacoby,  Marie  Billiard  (17). 

Confirmed  were  Jacob  Doney,  George  Kram,  Franz  Rinker, 
Robert  Moyer,  John  Billiard,  Anna  Marie  Doney,  Anna  Julina 
Kram,  Julie  Ann  Weber,  Katharine  Olb,  Elizabeth  Giess. 


8o 

Then  follow  the  communicants  of  April  6,   1849    (14),   and 
one  confirmation,  viz.,  Ruben  F  Hofifart. 

The  list  of  November  25,  1849,  follows,  containing  13  names. 
On  the  next  page  is  found  the  list  of  November  23,  1850,  contain- 
ing II  names.  Then  the  record  of  communicants  ceases. 
Sixteen  blank  pages  follow,  when  there  is  a  "Record  of  all  children 
who,  through  Holy  Baptism,  entered  the  covenant  with  the  holy 
Triune  God  by  a  Reformed  minister."  Fifty-seven  baptisms 
are  entered  between  May  14,  1848,  and  March  12,  1865.  Then 
follow  "the  burials  performed  by  Max  Stern,  Reformed  preacher," 
three  in  all;  the  first  one,  November  30,  1848;  the  last  one,  Sep- 
tember 14,  1849.  Then  begins  a  record  of  baptisms  from  March 
13,  1864,  to  1874,  containing  85  baptisms.  This  ends  the  record 
in  this  book,  when  it  is  opened  from  the  front  part.  When  the 
book  is  turned  around  another  record  begins  from  the  back  part 
of  the  book.  After  several  blank  pages,  we  find  written  at  the 
top,  evidently  in  the  handwriting  of  Rev.  Joshua  Yeager:  "Auf 
den  24ten  April  1848  sind  folgende  Personen  hier  zum  h  Abend- 
mahl  gegangen:"  On  April  24,  1848,  the  following  persons 
went  to  the  communion  at  this  place :  No  names  follow,  but  in 
the  next  page  this  heading  is  found,  also  in  Rev.  Yeager 's 
handwriting:  "Folgende  Personen  haben  sich  zum  erstenmahl 
in  der  neuen  Jerusalem's  Kirche  in  Salzburg  Township  Lech  a 
County  beim  heiligen  Abendmal  eingefunden,  den  24  April  1848 
(Ostermontag)  naemlich." 

Translated :  The  following  persons  were  present  at  the  first 
communion  in  the  new  Jerusalem  Church,  in  Salzburg  Township, 
Lehigh  County,  April  24,  1848  (Easter  Monday): 

William  Zoellner  and  wife  Susannah,  David  Moritz  and  wife 
Anna,  Michael  Stuber,  Christian  Deily  and  wife  Susannah,  Chris- 
tian Kaufer  and  wife  Catharine,  George  Bauer  and  wife  Maria, 
Michael  Mosser,  William  Stuber,  Helena  Moritz,  Elizabeth  Lein, 
Louisa  Ueberroth,  Juliana  Boehm,  Elizabeth  Deily,  Frederick 
Stuber,  Jacob  Trumbauer,  George  Berger  and  wife  Caroline, 
Emalinda  Deily,  Maria  Stuber,  Maria  Yost,  Maria  Reichenbach. 
26  in  all.  Then  follow  the  spring  and  fall  communions  of  the 
Lutheran  and  Reformed  congregations  regularly  to  October  22, 
1 87 1,  when  the  last  Lutheran  list  contained  60  names.  From 
1872  on,  each  congregation  kept  separate  record  books.  The 
Lutheran  record  contains  the  communion  lists  to  June,  1900,  and 
one  more  list  which,  however,  has  no  date;  likely  this  list  was  that 
of  the  fall  of  1900.  Between  this  last  list  and  May,  1902,  there 
is  no  record  of  communicants.  The  baptisms  in  the  Lutheran 
record  began  with  March,  1872,  and  end  with  August  24,  1884. 
We  failed  to  find  any  Lutheran  baptism  record  from  August  24, 
1884,  to  March  16,  1902,  when  the  present  record  was  begun. 
The  Reformed  record  has  been  kept  with  greater  regularity  and 
completeness  since  1872,  as  there  was  no  change  of  pastorates  for 
35  years. 


Rev.  W.  F.  Schokner. 
(1886-1901.) 


82 


Taking  the  records  as  far  as  we  have  them  since  1848,  we 
have  made  a  calculation  to  show  the  average  communicants 
during  these  six  decades  and  found  the  following:  The  average 
Lutheran  communicants  from  1848  to  1858  was  37;  from  1858 
to  '68,  50;  from  i868-'78,  44;  from  i878-'88,  46;  from  i888-'98, 
55 ;  from  1898- 1908,  62.  The  first  communicants  on  the  Lutheran 
side  numbered  26,  and  the  last  one  held  this  spring  numbered 
83,  an  increase  of  219  per  cent,  since  1848.  The  Reformed 
communicants  averaged  from  i848-'58,  15;  from  i858-'68,  24; 
from  i868-'78,  24;  from  i878-'88,  37;  from  i888-'98,  49;  from 
1 898- 1 908,  46.  The  first  communion  on  the  Reformed  side 
numbered  16;  the  last  one  this  spring,  58,  an  increase  of  262  per 
cent.,  showing  that  the  Reformed  communicants  increased  since 
1848,  .043  per  cent,  more  than  the  Lutherans. 

We  have  the  record  of  25  confirmation  classes  since  1848, 
on  the  Lutheran  side,  aggregating  424  persons.  The  largest 
class  was  in  1871,  when  there  were  27  confirmed;  the  smallest 
was  in  1897,  when  there  were  only  6.  The  average  size  of  the 
class  was  not  quite  17. 

On  the  Reformed  side  we  have  the  record  of  27  confirmations, 
aggregating  250.  The  largest  class  was  in  1892,  when  there  were 
17 ;  the  smallest  was  in  1849,  numbering  one  person. '  The  average 
size  of  the  class  was  a  little  more  than  9. 

Situated  as  Jerusalem  Church  is,  halfway  between  two 
prosperous  and  growing  centers  of  population,  Allentown  and  the 
Bethlehems,  these  towns  have  constantly  drawn  on  its  member- 
ship, so  that  the  congregations  here  have  not  been  able  to  increase 
very  materially.  During  the  last  40  years  new  congregations, 
Lutheran  and  Reformed,  have  been  organized  at  South  Bethle- 
hem, Fountain  Hill,  South  Allentown  and  Allentown,  all  of  which 
have  drawn  on  this  congregation  for  their  membership.  Gener- 
ally, the  active  and  energetic  members  are  the  ones  who  are 
attracted  to  the  centres  of  industry,  and  thus  not  only  quantities, 
but  also  qualities  are  removed  from  the  country  church,  deplet- 
ing it  in  both  measures. 

A  better  day,  however,  seems  to  be  dawning  on  Eastern 
Salisbury.  Much  of  the  land  has  been  cut  up  into  building  lots, 
new  homes  are  being  erected  from  year  to  year,  and  in  time  this 
will  also  bring  more  people  into  our  church. 

The  congregations  should  be  wise  in  laying  their  plans  for 
the  future,  so  as  to  draw  the  new  material  that  is  coming  to  this 
neighborhood,  and  not  permit  other  denominations  to  come  in 
and  occupy  the  most  advantageous  sites,  and  thus  draw  not  only 
the  new,  but  also  some  of  the  older  element  to  their  side.  Churches, 
like  fishermen,  must  go  where  the  fish  are  and  not  expect  the 
fish  to  come  where  they  are  if  they  would  catch  them. 


Rev.  E.  H.  Eberts. 
(1902-1903.) 


Rev.  h.  a.  Kunklk. 
(1903-1907.) 


85 

Pastors — Lutheran. 

Rev.  Joshua  Yeager  served  the  IvUtheran  congregation  from 
1843  to  1883,  a  period  of  40  years.  On  Good  Friday,  1882,  Rev. 
Prof.  William  Wackernagel,  D.  D.,  became  the  assistant  to  Rev. 
Yeager  in  this  congregation  and  continued  in  that  capacity  until 
the  death  of  Rev.  Yeager,  January  i,  1885.  Dr.  Wackernagel 
was  elected  pastor,  and  in  connection  with  this  congregation  and 
his  professorship  in  Muhlenberg  College,  also  served  St.  Thomas, 
at  Altona,  until  1886. 

Rev.  W.  F.  Schoener,  the  pastor  of  St.  Peter's,  South  Beth- 
lehem, served  it  for  fifteen  years  until  the  time  of  his  death,  July 
2,  1 901.  It  was  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Schoener  that  the 
congregation,  in  the  summer  of  1894,  adopted  a  new  constitution, 
the  constitution  of  St.  Peter's  Lutheran  congregation.  South 
Bethlehem,  being  the  model.  It  was  also  during  this  year  that 
"Rules  and  Regulations  for  the  government  of  Jerusalem  Church, 
Salisbury,  Lehigh  County,  Pa.,"  were  jointly  -adopted  by  the 
Lutheran  and  Reformed  congregations.  Whether  the  congre- 
gations ever  had  another  constitution  or  rules  and  regulations 
for  their  joint  affairs  is  not  known.  It  was  also  during  his  pas- 
torate that  he  and  Rev.  N.  Z.  Snyder,  the  Reformed  pastor, 
worked  hand  in  hand  to  bring  the  Sunday  School  into  closer 
relations  with  the  congregations,  and  adopted  May  11,  1890,  the 
"Rules  and  Regulations  of  the  Sunday  School  Association  of 
Jerusalem  Church,"  under  which  it  has  been  working  up  to  the 
present  time. 

After  the  death  of  Rev.  Schoener,  Dr.  Wackernagel  again 
served  the  congregation  temporarily  until  the  spring  of  1902, 
when  Rev.  E.  H.  Eberts  was  elected  to  the  charge  formed  by 
the  Allentown  Conference,  consisting  of  Jerusalem,  St.  Stephen's, 
N.  Bethlehem,  and  St.  John's  in  Williams  Township.  This 
pastorate  was  of  short  duration ;  for,  in  the  following  year,  Rev. 
Eberts  was  called  to  the  Schoenersville  and  Rittersville  parish 
and  resigned  July  i,  1903.  The  Allentown  Conference,  in  rear- 
ranging the  parishes,  united  Jerusalem  with  St.  Stephen's,  N. 
Bethlehem,  and  Frieden's,  Friedensville.  This  newly  formed 
parish  called  Rev.  H.  A.  Kunkle,  who  was  installed  November 
8,  1903.  Rev.  Kunkle  remained  until  March  i,  1907,  when  he 
followed  a  call  to  Elizabethville,  Dauphin  County.  It  was  during 
this  pastorate  that  the  services  were  increased,  instead  of  every 
four  weeks  to  every  two  weeks,  the  German  and  English  languages 
alternating;  the  salary  was  increased  from  $100  to  $150;  the 
church  book  was  introduced,  and  the  vesper  service  sung  respon- 
sively;  the  Church  Council  began  to  hold  quarterly  meetings  and 
to  keep  regular  minutes  of  their  proceedings.  A  new  organ  was 
also  procured  and  dedicated ;  contributions  of  goods  and  money 
were  gathered  for  the  Orphans'  Home,  at  Germantown;  College 


86 

Day  was  instituted,  to  be  observed  in  June.  From  March  i, 
1907,  to  September  i,  1907,  the  congregation  was  in  the  care  of 
the  President  of  Conference,  Rev.  A.  Stump,  and  was  supplied  by 
different  pastors.  In  August,  an  election  was  held  for  Rev.  C.  J. 
Cooper,  D.  D.,  in  the  three  congregations,  and  the  result  was  that  he 
took  charge  of  the  parish,  September  i ,  1907.  During  the  present 
pastorate  the  Luther  League  was  strengthened  by  adding  several 
new  features,  viz.,  an  Executive  Committee  was  constituted,  and 
a  Social  Committee  introduced.  In  January,  1909,  a  Ladies' 
Aid  Society  was  organized.  Through  the  Luther  League  addi- 
tional church  books  and  also  Reformed  hymn  books  were  placed 
in  the  pews,  and  the  congregation  has  arranged  to  have  four 
communions  during  the  year,  two  in  German  and  two  in  English. 
It  has  also  decided  that  the  preparatory  services  shall  be  held  in 
connection  with  the  communion.  Last  Easter  and  two  weeks 
later  the  German  and  English  communions  were  held,  and  it 
was  found  that.. there  were  as  many  communicants  at,  the  one 
as  at  the  other,  and  that,  on  the  whole,  there  were  more  com- 
municants in  the  aggregate  than  formerly.  The  congregation 
also  decided  to  concentrate  their  efforts,  in  behalf  of  the  benevo- 
lence fund,  by  using  the  Easter  and  Harvest  Festival  seasons  for 
the  purpose  of  gathering  in  the  benevolent  contributions,  not 
only  from  those  who  attend  the  services,  but  from  all  the  members 
by  means  of  a  special  envelope  and  a  printed  circular  on  which 
are  indicated  the  different  objects  of  the  church  for  which  our 
members  are  asked  to  contribute  their  means.  The  Easter 
time  reminds  us  of  what  our  Lord  has  done  for  our  souls  and  the 
Harvest  season  of  what  He  has  done  for  our  bodies.  These  great 
mercies  of  our  God  should  make  us  grateful  and  willing  to  give 
unto  Him  according  to  our  means. 

Reformed  Pastors. 

When  Rev.  N.  Z.  Snyder,  D.  D.,  the  Reformed  pastor  of 
Jerusalem  Church,  was  permitted  by  the  grace  of  God,  to  celebrate 
the  30th  anniversary  of  his  pastorate,  August  31,  1902,  and  was 
showered  with  congratulations  and  good  wishes,  he  prepared  and 
published  September  i,  1902,  in  The  Globe,  of  South  Bethlehem,  a 
sketch  of  the  Reformed  congregation,  and  we  are  happy  to  draw 
on  this  sketch  for  an  account  of  this  congregation.  The  Rev. 
Rudolph  Kidweiler,  referred  to  in  the  old  record,  was  pastor  at 
Long  Swamp,  Berks  County,  from  1754- 1762.  I^^  1848,  Rev. 
Maximilian  Stern  became  the  regular  pastor  and  served  to  1852. 
Rev.  A.  J.  G.  Dubbs  preached  his  introductory  sermon  May  23, 
1852,  and  served  until  1855,  according  to  Dr.  Snyder's  sketch; 
Rev.  Simon  K.  Gross,  from  1855  to  1857;  then  May  31,  1857,  Rev. 
A.  J.  G.  Dubbs  again  preached  his  introductory  sermon  and  served 
the  congregation  until  1864.      Dr.  Snyder,  in  his  sketch,  remarks: 


Rev.  Maxamiuan  Stern,  D.  D. 
(1848-1852.) 

(Cut  by  courtesy  of  Rev.  Jos.  H.  Dubbs,  D.  D.,  from  his 
"  Historic  Manual  of  the  Reformed  Church.") 


Rev.  S.  K.  Gross. 
(1855-1857.) 


Rev.  a.  J.  G.  DuBBS. 

(1852-1855.     1857-1864.) 


89 

"Of  all  this,  however,  there  is  no  record  book  to  be  found,  unless 
it  should  some  day  be  discovered  with  the  musty  rubbish  in  somcr 
body's  garret."  In  1866,  Rev.  D.  F.  Brendle  was  pastor,  who 
procured  a  record  book  for  the  Reformed  congregation.  He 
served  until  1872,  when  Rev.  Dr.  Snyder  was  elected  pastor, 
who  served  the  congregation  faithfully  for  35  years.  In  1897, 
Dr.  Snyder  doubled  the  services,  and  at  great  sacrifice  maintained 
also  the  English  services  for  the  benefit  of  the  younger  people. 
In  his  sketch  of  1902,  Dr.  Snyder  says:  "A  Missionary  and 
Aid  Society  was  also  organized  some  years  ago,  in  which  a  number 
of  members  and  friends  are  very  much  interested.  The  church 
has  been  twice  renovated  and  beautified.  There  are  two  Sunday 
Schools  maintained  in  the  neighborhood,  which  are  almost  wholly 
composed  of  members  of  these  two  congregations.  The  one 
meets  in  the  morning  in  a  chapel  nearby,  owned  by  the  school, 
and  the  other  meets  in  the  church  in  the  afternoon  before  the 
regular  services.  This  school  is  more  directly  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  congregations,  and  has  been  presided  over  during 
the  greater  part  of  the  present  pastorate  by  Elder  J.  W.  Larash, 
who  spared  no  efforts  to  teach  the  children  the  way  of  the  Lord. 
Others  have  been  doing  the  same  and  their  work  is  appreciated 
by  the  pastors." 

"Rev.  James  R.  Brown,  a  most  efficient  minister  of  the 
Reformed  Church,  was  brought  up  in  this  congregation  and 
confirmed  by  myself."  As  this  is  the  only  record  we  have  that, 
during  these  150  years,  a  minister  has  come  out  of  these  congre- 
gations, we  desire  to  express  our  gratification  that  at  least  one 
minister  has  come  out  of  the  Reformed  congregation,  when  both 
congregations  were  served  so  long  and  so  well  by  a  long  list  of 
ministers.  At  the  same  time  we  take  a  special  pleasure  in  record- 
ing the  fact  that  Rev.  James  R.  Brown  is  a  graduate  of  Muhlen- 
berg College  of  the  class  of  1887,  and  while  we  rejoice  with  Dr. 
Snyder,  our  old  schoolmate  in  the  celebrated  Bucks  County 
Normal  and  Classical  Institute,  that  he  can  point  to  Bro.  Brov/n 
and  say,  as  St.  Paul  said  of  Timothy,  "Who  is  my  beloved  son, 
and  faithful  in  the  Lord,"  we  also  take  pride  in  saying  that  we 
helped  to  make  him  what  he  is.  In  this  connection,  it  is,  however, 
just  to  state  that  Rev.  William  Cope,  a  minister  of  the  Moravian 
Church,  and  Rev.  Jeremiah  H.  Ritter,  of  Centre  Square,  were 
partly  raised  in  the  Lutheran  congregation. 

Rev.  T.  C.  Brown,  the  present  pastor,  took  charge  of  the 
Reformed  congregation  in  1908,  and  is  serving  it  in  connection 
with  Apple's  Church  and  Grace  Mission  in  South  Bethlehem. 

Renovations  of  Present  Church. 
In  1884,  a  thorough  renovation  of  the  church  was  undertaken. 
David  Moritz,  Sr.,  James  W.  Larash,  Henry  Deifer  and  Francis 
Buchecker  were  appointed  the  Building  Committee,  and  Francis 


90 

Buchecker,  Jr.,  was  chosen  Reformed  treasurer,  and  Alfred  Moritz, 
the  Lutheran  treasurer.  John  J.  Mohn,  Wilson  R.  Deily,  Alfred 
Moritz  and  George  P.  Scholl  were  appointed  a  committee  to  collect 
funds.  The  following  ladies  were  also  appointed  a  committee  to 
collect  funds:  Mrs.  John  J.  Mohn,  Mrs.  Francis  Buchecker,  Jr., 
Mrs.  Wal.  F.  Ueberroth,  Miss  W.  A.  Rau.  The  outside  of  the 
church  was  covered  with  a  colored  cement  wash  and  a  cornice 
was  added.  On  the  inside  the  ceiling  was  arched  and  covered 
with  paper  and  the  walls  frescoed.  The  pulpit,  altar,  reading 
desk,  baptismal  font  and  pews,  the  property  of  St.  Michael's 
Lutheran  Church,  Allentown,  were  purchased  and  renovated  and 
installed,  and  in  other  respects  the  inside  was  improved  and 
beautified.  The  whole  cost  at  this  time  was  $1,446.81.  The 
church  was  rededicated  Sunday,  September  7,  1884.  Dr.  Wack- 
ernagel  preached  in  German  in  the  morning;  Rev.  A.  J.  G.  Dubbs 
in  the  afternoon  in  German,  and  Rev.  C.  E-  Sandt  in  English, 
when  St.  Michael's  choir,  of  Allentown,  was  also  present  and 
rendered  several  anthems.  In  the  evening  Rev.  C.  J.  Cooper, 
then  pastor  of  St.  Peter's,  South  Bethlehem,  preached  in  German. 
Rev.  W.  Wackernagel,  pastor  protem,  and  Rev.  N.  Z.  Snyder 
were  the  Lutheran  and  Reformed  pastors,  and  assisted  in  con- 
ducting the  services.  Rev.  C.  E-  Sandt  was  also  present  in  the 
evening.     The  collections  for  the  day  amounted  to  $43.69. 

The  second  renovation  was  undertaken  in  the  spring  of  1898. 
A  committee  was  appointed  to  canvass  the  congregation  for 
funds  to  repair  or  to  build  a  new  church.  The  committee  con- 
sisted of  Revs.  W.  F.  Schoener,  N.  Z.  Snyder,  Percival  Hausman, 
Thomas  Scholl,  George  Scholl  and  John  Mohn.  Four  weeks  later 
this  committee  reported  that  the  sentiment  of  the  people  was 
against  a  new  church,  and  that  $252  had  been  subscribed  for 
repairs  that  were  estimated  to  cost  from  $250  to  $300.  The 
committee  was  empowered  to  proceed  with  the  repairs.  The 
congregations  decided  to  place  a  steeple  on  the  church,  and  to 
move  the  choir  to  the  side  of  the  chancel.  As  more  funds  were 
needed  to  make  these  improvements,  a  committee  of  four  ladies 
was  appointed  for  this  purpose,  viz.,  Mrs.  Matilda  Scholl,  Mrs. 
Edwin  Buchecker,  Mrs.  Eusyllas  Larash  and  Mrs.  Walter  Ueberroth. 

The  cost  of  repairs  and  improvements  were  $854.33.  The 
church  was  reopened  with  appropriate  services,  August  28th. 
The  Lutheran  pastor  was  prevented  from  being  present  on  account 
of  sickness.  Dr.  Wackernagel  and  Rev.  James  F.  Lambert 
officiated,  on  the  Lutheran  side;  but  who  assisted  Dr.  Snyder  we 
have  been  unable  to  ascertain  from  any  of  the  records. 

Organists. 
In  looking  over  the  records,  as  far  as  they  were  accessible 
to  us,  we  find  the  following  persons  have  served  the  congregations 
since  1848  in  the  capacity  either  of  chorister  or  organist: 


Rnv.  D.  F.  Brendle,  D.  D. 
(1866-1872.) 


Rev.  N.  Z.  Snyder,  D.  D. 
(1872-1907.) 


93 

In  1853,  August  F.  Halbach  served  in  this  capacity;  in  1854, 
John  F.  Halbach;  in  1855,  Edwin  A.  Mininger;  1866,  Benjamin 
Wagner,  who  served  until  1868,  when  we  find  the  name  of  Ada- 
man  G.  Schmidt,  who  now  resides  in  Philadelphia;  in  1873, 
William  Wieand ;  in  1874,  Thomas  O.  Cope;  from  1880  until  1906, 
J.  Fred  Pflueger.  Mr.  Pflueger  being  also  organist  at  the  Lower 
Saucon  Church  when  the  writer  was  pastor  there  from  1871  to. 
1 88 1,  we  take  pleasure  in  bearing  testimony  to  his  skill  and 
efficiency  as  organist  and  choir  master. 

Since  January,  1906,  Mr.  Milton  J.  Weiser  has  served  very 
acceptably.  For  many  years  the  melodeon  and  small  organ  served 
the  congregation  in  leading  the  music,  but  since  Mr.  Weiser  has 
been  organist  a  new  and  superior  instrument  has  been  installed 
at  a  cost  of  $264.  This  instrument  was  dedicated  January  27, 
1907,  when  the  pastors.  Revs.  H.  A.  Kunkle  and  N.  Z.  Snyder, 
D.  D.,  were  assisted  by  Revs.  J.  Stump,  W.  D.  C.  Keiter  and  C. 
A.  Kerschner. 

God's  Acre  and  Cemetery. 

Over  700  bodies  of  men,  women  and  children,  who  at  one 
time  or  other  were  identified  with  Jerusalem  Church,  lie  buried 
in  the  church  burying  ground  and  the  Morgenland  Cemetery 
adjoining.  Of  these,  24  are  soldiers,  whose  graves  are  annually 
decorated  by  the  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  and  the  Sons  of 
Veterans  with  flowers  and  the  flag  of  their  country. 

Many  of  the  old  graves  have  no  tombstones  and  the  names  of 
their  occupants  are  unknown.  The  oldest  graves  on  whose 
tombstones  the  names  can  be  deciphered  are :  Christian  Giess, 
born  in  Nassau,  Europe,  1720;  died  May,  1803.  William  Moritz, 
born  May  12,  1720;  died  May  25,  1797.  Eva  Moritz,  born  Sep- 
tember 29,  1727;  died  April  26,  1791.  John  Moritz,  born  April 
15,  1760,  died  June  29,  1847.  Helena  Catharine  (nee  Ebert), 
wife  of  John  Moritz,  born  March  16,  1766;  died  January  29,  1862. 
John  William  Stuber,  born  August  19,  1768;  died  October  6, 
1853,  85  years,  i  month  and  17  days.  Jacob  Jacoby,  born  August 
28,  1789;  died  March  7,  1867,  77  years,  6  months  and  8  days. 
Elizabeth  Jacoby,  born  September  15,  1788;  died  December  15, 
1857,  68  years  and  3  months.  There  is  one  stone  marked  "Oct. 
7,  1769,  ist  Jacob  Sam,  i  year,  3  mos." 

In  the  year  1885,  the  "Morgenland  Cemetery  Association" 
was  formed,  composed  of  members  of  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran 
congregations  of  Jerusalem  Church,  for  the  purpose  of  purchasing 
ground  contiguous  to  the  church  burying  ground,  cutting  it  up 
into  lots  and  selling  the  same.  The  congregations  consented  to 
the  removal  of  the  wall  separating  the  two  burying  grounds,  so 
as  to  throw  the  two  practically  into  one.  Each  part  is,  however, 
under  a  separate  management.  By  thus  enlarging  and  beauti- 
fying the  grounds,  Jerusalem  Church  has  an  attractive  spot  where 
their  dead  can  rest  in  peace  until  the  Resurrection  Day. 


94 

The  Sunday  School. 

There  is  no  doubt  that  soon  after  the  new  church  was  built 
in  1847,  steps  were  also  taken  to  organize  a  Sunday  School. 
Unfortunately,  no  records  of  those  early  days  have  been  preserved. 
The  German  language  was  used  exclusively  in  the  beginning,  and 
the  school  was  open  only  during  the  summer  rrionths.  The 
hames  of  the  Superintendents  that  are  still  remembered  by  per- 
sons living  to-day,  who  attended  the  school  in  the  early  days, 
are  Joseph  Herbst,  George  Doney,  Frederick  Springer  and 
Adaman  Smith,  in  '68  and  '69,  now  of  Philadelphia.  The 
earliest  record  that  has  been  preserved  dates  from  the  year  1874. 
It  contains  a  "Constitution  of  Jerusalem  Sunday  School"  with 
23  articles.  It  states  that  "the  object  of  Sunday  School  shall 
be  to  study  the  Scriptures,  qualify  the  young  of  the  church  for 
membership,  and  to  endeavor  to  instill  and  strengthen  in  them 
love  for  the  Church." 

In  addition  to  the  usual  officers  of  the  school,  it  also  provides 
for  deacons.  The  list  of  officers  contains  the  following  names 
for  the  year  1874-5:  Superintendent,  James  Larash;  Assistant 
Supt.,  J.  A.  Abbott;  Secretary,  C.  H.  Mohr;  Treasurer,  George 
Moyer;  Librarian,  George  Moyer;  Organist,  Thomas  Cope;  Dea- 
cons, George  Springer,  Jacob  Vogel,  David  Sterner,  W.  Ueberroth. 

The  male  teachers  were  J.  A.  Abbott,  Thomas  Cope,  George 
Springer,  Eugene  Stahlnecker,  Jacob  Vogel,  Sylvester  Mohn, 
William  Rummell,  Adaman  Kinder,  William  Bauer;  the  female 
teachers,  Eliza  Moyer,  Amanda  Keck,  Mary  Larash,  Amanda 
Moyer,  Mariah  Groff,  Sarah  Licht,  Mary  Moyer,  Ida  Clifton,  Sarah 
Stahlnecker,  Mary  Stuber,  Sarah  Earner,  Mary  Sterner,  Emma 
Markle,  Emma  Kressler,  Eliza  Bauer,  Catherine  Koons,  Lizzie 
Stout. 

The  proceedings  of  the  business  meetings  are  given  from 
November  25,  1874,  to  August  20,  1877,  also  the  accounts  of  the 
receipts  and  expenditures  to  January  2,  1878. 

For  some  reason  or  other,  at  a  regular  meeting  held  March 
14,  1875,  "It  was  regular  moved  and  second  to  have  the  Old 
Constitution  thrown  overboard  and  to  have  a  new  constitution." 
A  new  constitution  was  adopted,  which  is  also  given  in  this  book, 
but  this  is  not  as  full  and  complete  as  the  former.  The  next 
record  that  has  been  preserved  dates  from  January,  1886.  What 
has  become  of  the  records  from  January,  1878,  to  January,  1886, 
we  know  not,  unless,  as  the  present  secretary,  Mr.  Edgar  Butz, 
thinks,  they  were  burned  on  the  rubbish  pile  some  years  ago. 

April  8,  1890,  a  meeting  was  held  by  the  Church  Council  of 
the  Lutheran  congregation,  the  Consistory  of  the  Reformed 
congregation  and  the  members  of  both  congregations,  over  which 
Rev.  W.  F.  Schoener  presided  and  Rev.  N.  Z.  Snyder  acted  as 
secretary,  to  take  into  consideration  the  Sunday  School  work  in 


Rkv.  T.  C.  Brown. 
(1908-        ) 


96 

the  bosom  of  the  congregations.     At  this  meeting  the  sentiment 
-was  strongly  in  favor  of  the  Sunday  School  being  under  the  super- 
vision of  the  Council  and  Consistory.     It  was  believed  that  the 
Sunday  School  would  be  more  efficient  if  its  sessions  were  held  in 
the  afternoon  before  the  regular  services.     An  association  was 
formed    consisting  of    the  pastors,   Church  Council,  Consistory, 
officers  and  teachers  of  the  school.     The  officers  and  teachers 
of  Markel's  Sunday  School,  of  which  C.  A.  Groman,  Esq.,  was 
then  superintendent,  were  also  invited  to  unite.     A  committee 
of  said  Sunday  School  was  present  April  20,  1890,  and  reported 
that  their  Sunday  School  had  resolved  to  continue  as  heretofore. 
The  pastors  were  instructed  to  draw  up  a  constitution,  which  was 
adopted  later  on.     This  constitution  united  the  Sunday  School 
closely  with  the  congregations.     The  pastors  and  members  of  the 
Church  Council  and  Consistory  are  members  of  the  Sunday  School. 
The  object  of  the  association    is   "to  provide  for  the  religious 
education  of  the  young  by  means  of  the  Word  of  God,  the  cate- 
chisms of  the  churches,  Bible  History,  and  such  other  books  and 
papers  as  the  association  shall  direct;  to  sustain  by  labor  and 
gifts  of  love  the  various  benevolet  operatiuons  of  the  churches, 
such  as  Home  and  Foreign  Missions,  Orphans'  Homes  and  Edu- 
cation."    Since  then  the  Sunday  School  has  been  operating  under 
this  constitution,  and  has  done  good  and  efficient  work.     Too 
much  credit  can  not  well  be  given  to  the  faithful  few  who  have 
always  cheerfully  given  their  time  and  labor  to  this  work.     It  has 
often  been  found  difficult  to  secure  superintendents  and  teachers. 
We  take  pleasure  on  this  occasion  to  mention  that  on  April  21, 
1 901,  the  association  passed  a  vote  of  thanks  to  Mr.  James  W. 
Larash,  the  retired  superintendent,  for  his  faithful  and  continuous 
services  for  the  past  twenty.-five  years.     Mr.  Larash  was  succeeded 
by  Mr.  Charles  Herman,  whose  fidelity  also  won  for  him  a  vote 
of  thanks  in  October,  1905.     He  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  A.  Paulus, 
who  in  turn  was  succeeded  in  1906  by  Mr.  Trittenbech.     In  1907, 
Mr.  E.  T.  C.  Ueberroth,  who  had  faithfully  served  as  secretary 
for  many  years,   became  the  superintendent.     In  1908,  he  was 
succeeded  by  Mr.  T.  H.  Knappenberger,  and  in  1909,  Mr.  Edmund 
Springer  was  elected  to  this  position.     The  Sunday  School  has 
lately  been  graded   according  to  the  age  and  capacity  of  the 
scholars,  and  by  a  rearrangement  of  the  services  by  the  pastors, 
it  is  now  possible  for  them  to  be  more  regularly  in  attendance 
at  the  opening  of  the  school  and  to  assist  in  the  teaching. 

The  Sunday  School  has,  on  different  occasions,  appropriated 
moneys  out  of  its  treasury  for  the  congregations.  In  1893,  they 
purchased  an  English  Pulpit  Bible.  In  1898,  they  assisted  in 
making  improvements  in  the  church  and  paid  $10  towards  the 
bell.  In  1903,  they  contributed  $50  towards  the  debt  of  the 
church,  and  in  1906,  a  similar  amount  to  pay  for  the  new  organ. 
They  have  also,  for  a  number  of  years,  contributed  from  $5  to 
$10  towards  the  janitor's  salary. 


In  benevolence  they  have  contributed  from  year  to  year 
towards  the  cause  of  Home  and  Foreign  Missions,  and  in  1906, 
gave  $10.34  to  the  San  Francisco  sufferers. 

The  Sunday  School  has  regularly  celebrated  the  festivals  of 
the  church,  such  as  Christmas  and  Kaster,  with  appropriate 
services,  and  by  giving  suitable  presents  to  the  children.  The 
anniversary  of  the  school  has  also  been  observed  and  the  annual 
picnic  is  never  forgotten. 

Missionary  and  Aid  Societies 
AND  Luther  League. 

As  we  are  in  the  days  of  organizations  of  all  kinds,  the  con- 
gregations have  likewise  felt  the  need  of  organizing  the  activities 
of  their  members  in  such  a  way  as  to  enlist  and  secure  their  co- 
operation in  the  ever  increasing  work  of  the  pastors  and  of  the 
church  at  large.     On  September  29,   1895,   14  years  ago,  Rev. 
N.  Z.  Snyder  invited  the  members  and  friends  to  remain  after 
service  to  consider  the  advisability  of  organizing  a  Missionary 
Society.     It    was    unanimously    resolved    to    proceed    with    the 
organization.     Eighteen  persons   gave  their  names   and   among 
them  are  found  several  Lutheran  names.     These,   we  suppose, 
were  the  "friends"  who  were  invited  to  meet  with  the  members 
of  the  Reformed  congregation.     In    the   rules    and    regulations 
adopted,  the  purpose  of  the  organization  is  stated  to  be '  'to  enlighten 
the  members  in  regard  to  the  important  work  of  Christian  Mis- 
sions, and  to  promote  the  cause,  as  far  as  possible,  through  the 
regularly  constituted  channels  of  the  church."     The  society  met 
from  time  to  time  as  determined,  from  month  to  month,  or  upon 
the  call  of  the  president.     An  Executive  Committee  was  consti- 
tuted, that  arranged  a  program  for  the  meeting.     Voluntary  dues 
and  offerings  were  collected  at  the  meetings  from  the  members. 
Rev.  Snyder  was  requested  to  give  lectures  on  his  tour  to  Europe 
and   other  exercises   were   arranged,   calculated   to  interest  the 
members  in  the  objects  they  had  espoused.     On  October  25,  1896, 
the  secretary,  in  his  first  annual  report,  stated  that  the  society 
was  organized  with  18  members,  which  number  increased  during 
the  year  to  60.     After  deducting  the  removals  and  deaths,  there 
were  left  at  the  close  of  the  first  year  42  good  standing  members. 
The  amount  received  during  the  year  was  $17.50,   which  was 
increased  by  general  collections  to  $24.65.     Nothing  having  been 
paid  out,  this  amount  remained  in  the  hands  of  the  treasurer. 
At  a  meeting  on  December  20,  1896,  it  was  moved  and  carried  to 
change  the  name  to  "Missionary  and  Aid  Society."     In   1897, 
March  7,  the  society  appropriated  $25  for  Home  and  Foreign 
Missions.       In  1898,  the  society  bought  one  dozen  small  hymnals, 
appropriated  $3  to  the  Ladies'  Aid  Society,  of  Denver,  Col.,  and 
$10  to  Foreign  Missions.     At  the  annual  meeting,  November  12, 
1899,  the  roll  of  membership  was  revised  and  the  members  were 
requested  to  pledge  themselves  to  a  definite  amount  per  month. 


98 

This  was  changed  again  to  voluntary  contributions,  March  31, 

1 901.  The  contribution  to  Home  and  Foreign  Missions  was  $20, 
January  6,  1901.  Lady  delegates  were  sent  to  the  Woman's 
Home  and  Foreign  Missionary  Society  of  the  Classis  from  time 
to  time,  and  also  paid  annually  a  pledge  of  $5  to  the  society.     In 

1902,  the  society  paid  a  balance  of  $12.05,  due  on  the  English 
hymn  books  for  the  use  of  the  congregation,  and  $2  to  the  Pala- 
tinate Mission,  in  Philadelphia,  and  made  up  the  balance  of  the 
congregation's  apportionment  to  Classis  for  Foreign  Missions. 
The  last  meeting  recorded  was  that  of  January  14,  1906.  Then 
the  minutes  cease  until  February  7,  1909,  when  a  meeting  of  the 
Consistory  and  some  of  the  Reformed  members  was  called  for  the 
purpose  of  starting  up  and  reorganizing  the  Missionary  and  Aid 
Society.  In  May  2,  1909,  a  new  feature  was  introduced,  viz.,  to 
elect  an  organist  and  an  assistant,  and  the  dues  were  fixed  at 
5  cents  a  month.     The  enrollment  in  July  numbered  34  members. 

Luther  League. 

March  18,  1906,  Rev.  H.  A.  Kunkle,  the  pastor  of  the  Luth- 
eran congregation,  called  a  meeting  for  the  purpose  of  organizing 
a  Luther  League.  In  the  following  month  a  constitution  was 
adopted  and  by-laws  were  added  subsequently.  The  object  of 
this  society  is  the  improvement  of  its  members,  morally,  socially, 
intellectually,  and  spiritually,  and  to  render  the  church  such  aid 
as  may  be  in  its  power.  The  membership  is  composed  of  active, 
associate  and  honorary  members.  Active  members  shall  consist 
of  all  young  people  who  are  members  of  Jerusalem  Church,  whether 
Lutheran  or  Reformed.  Associate  members  are  persons  of  good 
moral  character  who  are  entitled  to  the  privileges  of  the  League, 
except  the  right  to  vote  and  hold  office;  while  honorary  members 
are  such  persons  who  have  rendered  the  League  any  valuable 
services  and  are  elected  by  the  League. 

To  carry  out  the  objects  of  the  League,  standing  committees 
are  constituted,  Membership,  Sanctuary,  Program  and  Social. 
The  officers  and  the  chairman  of  each  standing  committee  con- 
stitute the  Executive  Committee,  which  meets  monthly  in  advance 
of  the  meeting  of  the  League,  and  then  reports  to  the  League 
its  recommendations.  The  whole  League  meets  monthly  in  the 
church,  except  during  July  and  August,  when  a  suitable  program 
is  rendered  and  the  business  is  transacted.  During  the  past 
year  the  subjects  of  the  program  have  been  the  "Festivals  of  the 
Church  Year."  During  the  coming  year  the  League  has  con- 
cluded to  take  up  the  study  of  the  Common  Service  as  treated  in 
questions  and  answers  in  a  book  called  "The  Explanation  of  the 
Common  Service."  The  League  has  contributed  out  of  its  funds 
towards  the  organ  purchased;  Lutheran  and  Reformed  hymn 
books  for  the  pews;  to  the  cause  of  Missions,  both  Lutheran  and 
Reformed,  and  to  the  joint  treasury  for  the  janitor's  salary,  and 
to  the  Sunday  School  for  books  needed. 


99 

It  is  a  member  of  the  Allentown  Central  and  sends  delegates 
to  its  meetings.  For  the  cultivation  of  sociability  among  its 
members  it  also  holds  a  monthly  social  meeting,  except  during 
Lent,  at  the  homes  of  its  members,  when  a  program,  consisting 
of  recitations  and  music,  vocal  and  instrumental,  is  rendered. 
It  closed  the  past  year  by  giving  a  public  entertainment  in  the 
Fairview  School  House,  which  was  so  well  received  that  the 
request  was  made  that  it  be  repeated,  which  was  granted. 

Lutheran  Ladies'  Aid. 

Last  year  the  Lutheran  pastor  felt  the  need  of  calling 
in  the  assistance  of  the  women  of  the  congregation  for  the  purpose 
of  assisting  him  and  the  Church  Council  in  various  directions. 
A  meeting  of  the  women  was  called  for  Wednesday,  January  20, 
1909,  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Harry  Scholl,  after  the  Church  Council 
had  approved  of  the  object.  A  number  responded  to  the  invi- 
tation, extended  by  mail  to  all  the  female  members  of  the  con- 
gregation. They  approved  of  the  cause  and  a  constitution  was 
adopted,  officers  and  committees  elected  and  appointed.  The 
congregation  is  divided  into  three  districts.  In  each  district 
three  committees  are  appointed — one  on  membership,  whose 
duty  is  not  only  to  propose  new  members,  but  to  inform  the 
pastor  of  any  new  people  moving  within  the  district,  of  any  sick 
and  poor. 

A  committee  on  literature  is  also  appointed  in  each  district, 
whose  duty  it  is  to  assist  the  pastor  in  distributing  circulars, 
securing  subscriptions  to  periodicals  and  canvassing  for  good 
books. 

A  third  committee  in  each  district  is  a  collecting  committee 
to  assist  in  collecting  funds  for  the  benevolent  work  of  the  church 
— at  Easter  and  Harvest  season — the  Orphans'  Homes,  etc. 

There  are  monthly  meetings  held  by  the  officers  and  members 
of  the  different  committees  and  quarterly  meetings  by  the  whole 
society.     The  dues  are  25  cents  per  quarter. 

In  closing  this  sketch,  which  at  best  is  but  a  mere  chronicle 
of  such  facts  as  we  could  gather  here  and  there,  permit  me  to  say 
that  we  have  taken  great  pleasure  in  making  this  contribution 
to  the  very  enjoyable  occasion  that  has  brought  us  together.  We 
wish  also  to  take  this  opportunity  to  thank  one  and  all  who  have 
in  any  way  helped  to  make  this  event  one  long  to  be  remembered 
by  all  who  have  been  permitted  to  share  in  the  same.  We  thank 
the  brethren  in  the  ministry  who  have  come  from  far  and  near 
to  add  to  our  joy.  We  thank  the  choir  and  those  who  assisted 
them  for  the  labor  they  have  taken  to  enhance  the  pleasure  of 
this  day.  We  thank  the  committees  of  arrangements,  deco- 
rations and  the  lunch  for  the  good  things  they  set  before  us.  We 
thank  the  members  of  both  congregations  for  the  distribution  of 
the  souvenir  postal  card  invitations,  and  the  press  for  its  gener- 
ous space  accorded  this  event. 

To  God  alone  be  all  the  praise  and  glory. 


History  of  Solomon's  Reformed 
Church,  Macungie. 

By  James  J.  Hauser. 

Prior  to  1841,  the  members  of  the  Reformed  and  Lutheran 
faiths,  residing  at  Macungie  (Millerstown) ,  worshipped  at  the 
Lehigh,  Salisbury  and  Old  Zionsville  Churches.  In  that  year, 
Solomon  Wescoe,  John  Shiffert  and  others  conceived  the  idea  that 
a  house  of  worship  should  be  nearer  at  home  for  the  members 
at  this  place.  Solomon  Wescoe  donated  one-half  acre  of  land,  on 
Church  Street,  which  derived  its  name  from  this  fact. 

The  work  of  building  began  immediately.  The  church  was 
a  plain,  substantial  stone  building  for  the  use  of  the  Reformed  and 
Lutheran  congregations.  This  church  was  altered  in  1870,  en- 
tirely remodeled  in  1881,  and  rebuilt  in  1893.  The  church  yard 
was  used  for  burial  purposes,  and  in  1869  an  acre  of  land  was  pur- 
chased of  Klias  Lichtenwalner  for  five  hundred  dollars,  which  was 
cut  up  into  family  burial  plots  and  in  which  the  deceased  members 
of  the  congregations  now  sleep  their  last  sleep.  It  was  a  union 
church  from  the  time  it  was  built  until  1893,  when  the  Reformed 
congregation  bought  the  Lutherans'  share.  The  latter  erected 
Grace  Lutheran  Church,  on  Main  Street,  the  same  year.  The 
fiftieth  anniversary  was  very  fittingly  celebrated. 

The  pastors  who  served  the  Lutheran  congregation  from  1841 
to  1893,  were  Rev.  Benjamin  German,  1841  to  1848;  Rev.  William 
German,  1848  to  1851 ;  Rev.  Jeremiah  Schindel,  1851  to  1856;  Rev. 
Joshua  Yeager,  1856  to  1867;  Rev.  A.  D.  Croll,  1867  to  1868;  Rev. 
William  Rath,  1868  to  1889;  Rev.  Myron  Rath,  1889  to  1893,  the 
time  of  separation. 

The  Reformed  pastors  were  the  following:  Rev.  Samuel 
Hess,  1843  to  1845.  Prior  to  1843  the  congregation  was  served 
by  different  pastors.  Rev.  Henry  Bassler,  1 845  to  1 848 ;  Rev.  John 
S.  Kessler,  D.  D.,  1848  to  1850;  Rev.  J.  B.  Poerner,  1850  to  1852; 
Rev.  Daniel  Zellers,  1853  to  1857;  Rev.  A.  J.  G.  Dubbs,  1857  to 
1876;  Rev.  Thomas  Reber,  1876  to  1892 ;  Rev.  C.  W.  Schaffer,  1892 
to  1897;  Rev.  Thomas  W.  Dickert,  1897  to  1902;  Rev.  Simon 
Sipple,  1902  to  1908.  The  congregation  had  no  regular  pastor 
for  some  time,  as  Rev.  Sipple  resigned  April  30,  1908,  to  accept  a 
call  at  Doylestown,  Pa.,  but  was  regularly  served  by  Rev.  J.  F. 


lOI 

DeLong,  of  Bethlehem.  Rev.  John  Schaffer  was  elected  in  the  fall 
of  1908.  The  church  was  called  Solomon's  Church  in  honor  of 
Solomon  Wescoe,  its  principal  donor  and  supporter  until  his  death. 
He  lies  buried  in  the  graveyard  of  the  church.  The  church  has  the 
largest  Sunday  School  in  the  town,  numbering  350  pupils. 

During  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  Henry  Bassler  prayer  meetings 
and  Bible  study  were  introduced  and  revivals  took  place,  and  a 
number  of  the  members  withdrew  from  the  congregation  and 
joined  other  congregations.  Ministers  of  different  denomina- 
tions preached  at  different  times  in  the  church,  and  at  one  time  it 
seemed  if  the  church  would  be  disrupted.  Rev.  Henry  Bassler 
resigned  and  went  elsewhere,  and  the  breach  .was  healed  and  every- 
thing went  along  well  until  Rev.  A.  D.  Croll  became  pastor  of  the 
Lutheran  congregation,  when  another  and  more  serious  disruption 
took  place.  Revs.  Bassler  and  Croll  were  both  able  and  forcible 
speakers  and  men  of  stainless  character,  and  had  many  followers. 

In  1867,  during  the  pastorate  of  Rev.  A.  D.  Croll  (Lutheran) 
an  eruption  took  place.  The  reverend  gentleman  having  changed 
his  ecclesiastical  relations  from  one  to  the  other  synod  of  the 
Lutheran  Church,  or  what  is  called  going  over  from  the  old  to 
what  is  called  the  New  Lutheran  Church,  drawing  on  members  of 
both  congregations.  Reformed  and  Lutheran. 

This  eruption  brought  on  a  lawsuit  in  which  the  reverend 
gentleman  was  allowed  to  preach  to  the  end  of  the  year,  notwith- 
standing the  doors  had  been  barred  against  his  entrance.  This 
action  created  a  great  deal  of  dissatisfaction  on  the  part  of  many 
members  of  the  congregation.  The  church  doors  had  been  locked 
against  him,  but  his  adherents  broke  them  open  and  took  posses- 
sion of  the  church.  Rev.  Croll  claimed  and  maintained  that  he 
could  not  be  turned  out  until  the  year  to  which  he  had  been  elected, 
was  up.  This  point  was  decided  in  his  favor  by  the  Court,  and 
he  was  allowed  to  preach  to  the  end  of  his  term.  Then  Rev.  Croll 
and  his  followers  withdrew  and  built  St.  Matthew's  Lutheran 
Church. 

On  Whitsuntide,  1902,  the  sixtieth  anniversary  was  very 
appropriately  celebrated.  The  regular  pastor.  Rev.  Thomas  W. 
Dickert,  was  assisted  by  Revs.  J.  H.  Dubbs,  D.  D.,  T.  J.  Hacker, 
A.  R.  Bartholomew,  D.  D.,  and  Rev.  J.  F.  Neibuhr,  of  the  Baptist 
Church,  of  Macungie.  The  congregation  began  to  build  a  parson- 
age in  1902,  which  was  completed  in  1903  and  occupied  by  Rev. 
Simon  Sipple.  The  membership  numbers  at  present  356.  The 
church  sustains  a  Missionary  Society,  Christian  Endeavor  Society, 
Sewing  Society,  Mission  Band,  besides  the  Sunday  School.  The 
congregation  was  served  in  connection  with  the  Emaus  and  Salis- 
bury charges  until  Rev.  C.  W.  Schaffer's  pastorate,  when  it 
became  a  separate  charge  and  has  been  for  some  time  self-sustain- 
ing. ^  It  contributed  for  congregational  purposes  in  1907  and  1908, 
$2,300;  for  benevolent  purposes,  $862;  and  during  Rev.  Simon 


I02 

Sipple's  five  years'  pastorate,  a  grand  total  of  $12,452  had  been 
contributed  by  the  congregation,  which  speaks  well  for  the  mem- 
bers of  the  church.  The  officers  of  the  church  at  present  are  as 
follows:  Elders,  Dr.  H.  M.  Schell,  G.  F.  Kerchner,  F.  J.  Wieder, 
J.  ly.  Christman,  Charles  M.  Mohr,  Elder  Emeritus.  Deacons,  W. 
N.  Decker,  Addison  Christman,  S.  R.  Moyer,  J.  F.  Weider,  J.  M. 
Roedler,  W.  J.  Kern.  Organist,  A.  G.  Romig.  Janitress,  Mrs. 
Augustus  Weaver.  Trustees,  William  H.  Miller,  Alexander 
Ritter,  Benjamin  Moyer,  Levi  R.  Griesemer,  Daniel  Griesemer, 
William  Kerchner.  Superintendent  of  Sunday  School,  W.  N. 
Decker.  Assistant  Superintendent  of  the  Sunday  School,  H.  L. 
Hertzog.  Superinten*dent  of  Primary  Department,  Mrs.  h.  R. 
Griesemer.  Assistant  Superintendent  Primary  Department,  Mrs. 
Nelson  Knauss.  Regular  services  are  held  every  Sunday  morning 
at  10  o'clock  in  the  German  language,  and  in  the  evening  at  7 
o'clock  in  the  English  language.     Sunday  School  at  9  A.  M. 

A  short  sketch  of  the  different  ministers  that  served  the  con- 
gregation since  1841  will  undoubtedly  be  appreciated  by  the 
people  of  Macungie. 

Reformed  Pastors. 

The  first  one  on  the  Reformed  side  is  the  late  Father  Samuel 
Hess,  of  Hellertown,  Pa.  He  was  born  on  Christmas  Day,  1804, 
in  Northampton  County,  Pa.  His  parents  were  both  members  of 
the  Reformed  Church,  who  reared  their  children  in  the  nurture  and 
admonition  of  the  Lord.  Early  in  life  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  thoroughly  instructed  in  the  doctrines  of  the  holy  religion  as 
set  forth  in  the  Heidelberg  Catechism  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Pomp. 
He  began  a  course  of  study  under  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Becker,  D.  D.,  in 
1823,  continued  the  same  for  four  years,  and  soon  after  was 
licensed  and  ordained  to  preach  the  word  of  God,  1827.  He 
began  his  ministerial  duties  at  the  Blue  Church,  and  where  he  also 
laid  down  his  shepherd's  crook  after  forty-one  years  of  faithful 
service.  During  the  first  years  of  his  ministry  he  also  served  in 
the  capacity  of  school  teacher.  During  his  ministry  he  gathered 
and  organized  five  congregations,  viz. :  Apple's,  Applebachsville, 
Keller's,  Macungie  (Millerstown)  and  Blue  Church;  and  also  may 
be  regarded  as  the  founder  of  Christ  Union  Church.  On  account 
of  failing  health  he  resigned  in  1 868  from  active  work  in  the  min- 
istry. He  was  fearless,  bold,  manly  and  outspoken,  and  struck 
many  a  heavy  blow  against  error.  A  warm  friend,  a  good  coun- 
sellor, a  sympathetic  pastor,  an  earnest  advocate  of  truth,  an 
unrelenting  enemy  to  all  hypocrisy,  falsehood  and  deceit.  He 
married  Elizabeth  D.  [Owen,  who  died  in  1838  without  issue. 
He  married,  in  1840,  Miss  Lucetta  Klein,  with  whom  he  had 
two  sons,  namely,  Hon.  J.  S.  Hess  and  Milton  Hess,  both 
living  at    Hellertown,  Pa.     He  died  of  acute  gastro-enteritis  at 


I03 

Hellertown,  Pa.,  November  23,  1875,  aged  70  years,  10  months 
and  28  days.  Revs.  A.  J.  G.  Dubbs,  W.  R.  Hofford  and  N.  S. 
Strassburger  officiated  at  the  house,  and  at  the  church  Revs.  T.  O. 
Stem  and  Dr.  B.  Bausman  preached  the  sermons. 

Rev.  Henry  S.  Bassler  was  born  August  11,  1804,  in  Upper 
Milford  Township,  Lehigh  County,  the  son  of  Henry  Bassler  and 
his  wife,  Veronica  (nee  Schantz),  studied  theology  under  Rev. 
Jacob  W.  Dechant,  licensed  to  preach  in  1829,  served  in  the  min- 
istry over  50  years,  and  died  February  17,  1883,  in  Dauphin 
County,  Pa.,  aged  78  years,  6  months  and  6  days. 

Rev.  John  S.  Kessler,  D.  D.,  was  born  August  19,  1797,  in 
Schiers,  Canton  de  Grisson,  Switzerland.  He  studied  at  the  Can- 
ton School  of  Chur,  completed  his  theological  studies  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Basle,  1821,  and  was  ordained  as  a  minister,  at  the  age 
of  22  years,  at  Devos,  Canton  Claris,  where  he  labored  for  19  years, 
when  he  moved  with  his  family  to  Virginia,  and  served  congrega- 
tions in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  at  Woodstock,  where  he  served 
four  years,  when  he  went  to  Reading,  Pa.,  where  he  was  associated 
with  Rev.  J.  C.  Bucher,  as  assistant  pastor  of  the  First  Reformed 
Church,  1845,  where  he  stayed  for  two  years,  when  he  received 
a  call  to  Baltimore,  Maryland,  1847,  where  he  worked  faithfully 
for  seven  years.  In  1854  he  came  to  Allentown,  Pa.,  and  aided 
his  son.  Rev.  Christian  Rudolf  Kessler,  who  had  established  a 
seminary  at  that  place.  His  son  dying  in  1855,  he  was  retained 
by  the  trustees  as  one  of  the  regular  teachers ;  and  in  this  connec- 
tion he  continued  until  his  death,  in  1864,  aged  67  years.  He 
was  one  of  the  committee  to  prepare  a  German  hymn  book.  He 
received  the  degree  of  Doctor  of  Divinity  from  Franklin  and  Mar- 
shall College.  He  was  a  profound  theologian  and  was  one  of  the 
most  eminent  divines  of  the  Reformed  Church  of  his  time. 

Daniel  Zeller  was  born  in  Tulpehocken  Township,  Berks 
County,  Pa.,  May  13,  1792,  the  son  of  Francis  and  Elizabeth 
Zeller  and  was  baptized  by  Rev.  Daniel  Wagner.  In  his  youth 
he  worked  on  his  father's  farm,  but  had  no  inclination  for  farm  life; 
was  instructed,  confirmed  and  admitted  to  full  membership  in 
the  Reformed  Church,  at  Lebanon,  Pa.,  by  the  sainted  Hiester. 
Early  evincing  a  desire  for  entering  the  ministry,  he  commenced 
his  preparatory  and  theological  studies  under  the  Rev.  Samuel 
Heffenstein,  D.  D.,  in  Philadelphia,  in  181 1.  Examined  and 
licensed  to  preach  at  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Synod  of  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  Church,  held  at  Easton,  Pa.,  April  25,  1815.  He 
took  charge  as  supply  of  the  congregations  at  Upper  Saucon, 
Upper  Milford,  Trexlertown  and  Salisbury,  Lehigh  County,  which 
constituted  the  charge  of  Rev.  J.  William  Dechant,  who  had 
obtained  a  leave  of  absence  to  make  a  missionary  tour  to  Ohio. 
Mr.  Zeller  remained  a  candidate  for  three  years,  when  he  was 
examined  again  and  ordained  September  8,  181 8,  at  Carlisle,  Pa. 
As  Rev.  J.  William  Dechant  never  took  charge  of  his  congre- 


I04 

gations  again,  Rev.  Zeller  became  the  regular  pastor  and  remained 
so  until  May,  1857,  when  he  was  compelled  to  resign  on  account  of 
infirmities.  These  were  the  only  congregations  he  served,  except 
Solomon's  Reformed  Church,  Macungie  (Millerstown).  Married 
August  21,  1 816,  to  Mrs.  Maria  Schweitzer,  who  died  October  27, 
1855.  They  had  two  children — daughters  who  survived  their 
parents  and  ministered  to  their  wants.  He  died  in  Allentown  on 
Easter  Sunday,  April  12,  1868,  aged  75  years,  10  months  and  15 
days.  He  was  buried  in  the  Union  Cemetery.  Rev.  Zeller  bap- 
tized  3,881,  confirmed   2,139,  married  1,110  couples  and  buried 

1,073- 

Rev.  A.  J.  G.  Dubbs,  D.  D.,  was  a  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  Dubbs,  and 
was  bom  June  8,  1826,  in  Berks  County,  Pa.  He  moved  with  his 
family  to  the  Allentown  charge,  where  his  boyhood  days  were  spent. 
In  1 840  he  entered  Lafayette  College,  Easton,  to  prepare  for  a  life 
of  business.  After  engaging  in  business  for  some  time,  his  health 
failed,  and  he  decided  to  return  to  school,  entering  Marshall  Col- 
lege, Mercersburg,  Pa.,  where  he  remained  until  1849,  when  he 
took  charge  of  a  select  school  for  young  men.  He  decided  to 
enter  the  ministry,  and  in  1851  was  examined  and  licensed  by  the 
East  Pennsylvania  Classis  and  received  a  call  to  preach  in  English 
in  the  Reformed  Church,  at  Allentown,  serving  for  one  year,  when 
he  became  pastor  of  the  vSouth  Whitehall  charge.  In  1857  he  was 
called  to  the  charge  composed  of  the  Trexlertown,  Millerstown 
(now  Macungie),  Upper  Milford  and  Friedensville  congregations, 
which  he  served  faithfully  and  successfully  for  fourteen  years, 
when  the  charge  was  divided  and  he  became  the  pastor  of  the  first 
three-named  congregations,  which  he  served  until  1876,  when  he 
became  pastor  of  Salem's  Reformed  Church,  Allentown,  Pa., 
where  he  labored  diligently  for  sixteen  years,  with  a  membership 
of  twelve  hundred  members.  His  health  failing,  he  retired  from 
active  service.  Died  at  Allentown,  Pa.,  November  7,  1897,  aged 
71  years  and  6  months.  He  was  married  October  18.  1853,  ^^ 
Maria  Schreiber,  who  died  January  23,  1894.  Dr.  Dubbs  had  also 
served  as  trustee  of  the  Keystone  State  Normal  School,  Kutztown, 
for  a  number  of  years. 

Rev.  Simon  Sipple  was  born  in  1875  in  Somerset  County, 
Pennsylvania,  of  German  parentage.  He  was  brought  up  upon  a 
farm,  attended  the  ungraded  schools  and  local  Normal  School  and 
worked  in  a  hardwood  furniture  factory.  At  the  age  of  18  years 
he  entered  Mercersburg  Academy,  at  Mercersburg,  where  he  grad- 
uated in  1896.  Spent  four  years  at  Franklin  and  Marshall  College, 
at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  graduating  in  1900.  He  entered  the  Theo- 
logical Seminary  cf  the  Reformed  Church,  at  Lancaster,  and 
graduated  in  1903.  Became  pastor  of  the  Macungie  congrega- 
tion as  its  regular  pastor,  May  30,  1903,  having  served  it  before  as 
a  supply  during  his  senior  year.  Married  the  same  year  to  Miss 
Lillian  A.  Schultz,  of   Reading.     He  served  the  charge  for  five 


I05 

years,  when  he  accepted  a  call  to  Doylestown,  Pa,  1908,  where  he  is 
now  stationed.     During  the  last  two  years  of  his  stay  at  Macungie, 
he  was   teacher    of    Bible  History  at  Phoebe  Deaconess  Home, 
a  charitable  institution  of  the  Reformed  Church,  at  Allentown. 
Rev.  J.  J.  Schafifer  has  been  pastor  since  the  fall  of  1908. 

Lutheran  Pastors. 

Rev.  Joshua  Yeager,  son  of  Rev.  John  Conrad  Yeager,  studied 
for  the  ministry  under  his  father,  was  licensed  to  preach  in  1827, 
and  became  assistant  to  his  father  on  his  whole  charge  until  1 83 1 , 
when  the  father  resigned  his  country  charges,  his  son,  Joshua, 
becoming  his  successor.  After  his  father's  death,  he  became  his 
successor  of  his  charge  at  Allentown,  St.  Paul's,  which  he  served 
for  21  years.  He  became  pastor  of  the  Lutheran  congregation  of 
Solomon's  Church,  Macungie,  in  1856  and  served  until  1867,  when 
he  resigned. 

Rev.  Jeremiah  Schindel,  a  son  of  Rev.  John  Peter  Schindel, 
was  born  May  15,  1807,  at  Lebanon,  Pa.  Learned  the  printer's 
trade.  Had  as  his  associates,  Hon.  Simon  Cameron,  John  and 
William  Bigler,  afterwards  governors  of  California  and  Pennsyl- 
vania, respectively.  Studied  theology  under  his  father  and  Rev. 
Dr.  Lochman.  Married,  1828,  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Masser,  of  Sun- 
bury,  Pa.  Licensed  to  preach  in  1830;  served  congregations  at 
Danville,  Bloomsburg,  Catawissa,  Roaring  Creek,  Mifflinsburg, 
Berwick,  Briar  Creek  and  Conyngham.  In  1837  was  called  to 
Lehigh  County,  where  he  served  congregations  at  Jordan,  Heidel- 
berg, Union,  Weisenberg,  Ziegel's,  Lowhill  and  Trexlertown,  and 
for  a  time  at  Fogelsville,  Tripoli,  Frieden's,  Macungie,  Longswamp, 
and  organized  congregations  at  Morganland,  Cedarville,  Mickley's 
and  St.  Paul's,  Catasauqua.  From  1859  to  1861  he  served  as 
State  Senator.  Resigned  as  pastor  and  served  as  chaplain  of  the 
iioth  Pennsylvania  Regiment  of  Volunteers,  serving  under  Gen- 
erals Banks  and  Shields  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley.  Returned 
home  in  1864  and  accepted  a  call  from  Lyken's  Valley,  Dauphin 
County,  which  he  served  until  1870,  and  returned  to  Allentown. 
where  he  died  July  2,  1870,  aged  63  years,  i  month  and  17  days. 


First  Steam  Whistle  in  the  Lehigh  Valley. 

(ELxtract  from  a  newspaper  of  Feb.  27,  1872.) 


"The  first  steam  whistle  that  ever  sent  its  unearthly  echoes 
through  the  hills  that  skirt  the  Lehigh  Valley,  was  made  and 
operated  at  the  Allentown  Iron  Works,  nearly  thirty  years  ago 
by  William  E.  Reeves,  a  machinist,  who  was  running  one  of  the 
stationary  engines  at  that  place.  The  secret  of  its  preparation 
was  confided  only  to  Mr.  Lewis,  Superintendent  of  the  Works^ 
and  one  or  two  others. 

One  evening  about  8  o'clock,  the  whistle  was  attached  to  the 
boiler,  a  full  head  of  steam  turned  on,  and  the  people  for  miles 
around  were  startled  by  shrieks,  the  like  of  which  few  had  ever 
heard  before,  and  some,  looking  upwards  with  superstitious  fear, 
thought  the  first  notes  of  Gabriel's  trumpet  were  sounding  in  their 
ears.  The  general  effect  is  described  in  the  following  protest, 
written  shortly  after  the  panic  had  subsided : 

The  Steam  Whistle. 

Some  nights  ago  I  heard  a  sound 

Which  raised  me  from  my  heel-tap, 
I  said  as  I  regained  the  ground, 

"Old  Nick  is  in  the  steeltrap." 
Upon  a  sober  second  thought 

I  feared  that  Schnurman's  animals* 
Were  loose  again,  or  still  uncaught — 

Perhaps  a  horde  of  cannibals, 
Had  forwarded  from  Oregon 

A  war-whoop  telegraphical, 
It  echoed  'round  in  horrid  tone 

And  sounded  epitaphical. 
The  Mingo  folks  who  heard  the  sound, 

With  proper  circumspection, 
Turn'd  out  in  order  to  put  down 

A  negro  insurrection;! 
But  when  they  found  no  mob  to  quell — 

For  that  was  not  the  matter — 
The  darkies  all  felt  deathly  pale 

And  home  the  heroes  scatter. 

♦In  those  days  Mr.  Henry  Schnurman  was  in  the  dry  goods  and  grocery  business, 
and  advertised  largely.  His  heading  was,  "The  animals  are  loose,"  followed  by  pic- 
tures of  wild  animals.  An  unsophisticated  countryman  on  one  occasion  called  in  to 
make  a  small  purchase,  and  claimed  the  right  to  see  the  show  gratis  which  non-plussed 
him  entirely. 

tA  few  negro  families  were  at  that  time  living  in  Mingo,  now  First  Ward,  and  as  they 
were  in  the  habit  of  fighting  and  making  a  good  deal  of  noise  amongst  themselves,  it  was 
supposed  the  howl  came  from  that  quarter. 


lO* 


It  seems  the  folks  of  Hanover 

Had  read  of  General  Putman 
Who  waged  against  the  wolves  a  war 

For  slaughtering  his  mutton; 
So  when  they  heard  the  fearful  sound — 

There  truly  was  alarm  int — 
They  took  their  trusty  rifles  down 

To  hoot  the  howling  varm  int. 
The  neighboring  Furnace-men,  'twould  seem, 

Are  rather  heavy  sleepers, 
And  so  they  made  a  steam  machine 

To  waken  up  the  "keepers." 
It's  right  enough  that  they  should  know 

When  to  begin  their  labors 
Bit  then  it's  wrong  in  doing  so 

To  frighten  all  the  neighbors. 
And  then  the  noisy  nondescript 

Disturbs  the  rites  of  Morpheus — 
Its  patent  surely  don't  conflict 

With  any  right  of  Orpheus. 
'Tis  hoped  when  Iron  Works  shall  need 

Another  such  improvement  (!) 
The  public  may  be  notified 

Of  the  intended  movement, 
For,  to  be  awaken'd  up  at  night 

By  such  a  yelling  demon. 
Might  make  a  man  a  Millerite 

And  fright  to  death  the  women." 


Tn  mcmoriatti. 


I 


During  the  past  year,  what  the  poet  has  so  aptly  called  the 
"fatal  asterisk  of  death"  has  been  set  against  the  names  of  five 
members  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society.  The  first 
of  these  was  Amandes  A.  Kern,  who  passed  away  at  his  home  in 
Slatington  at  five  o'clock  in  the  evening  of  March  27,  1908.  Mr. 
Kern  was  aged  57  years  and  4  months.  His  business  was  that 
of  a  butcher.  He  left  a  widow  and  four  children,  namely,  Mrs. 
Samuel  Steckel,  Miss  Cora  Kern,  George  Kern  and  Harrison  Kern. 
Mr.  Kern  was  a  member  of  the  Odd  Fellows  and  of  St.  John's 
Reformed  congregation  at  Frieden's  Church.  The  funeral  was 
held  on  the  following  Tuesday,  April  ist,  and  the  services  were 
conducted  by  Rev.  A.  Piscator  and  Rev.  N.  F.  Peters.  Mr. 
Kern  was  elected  a  member  of  this  society  on  January  13,  1906. 

Rev.  Dr.  J.  D.  Schindkl. 

Rev.  Jacob  Daniel  Schindel,  D.  D.,  for  forty-one  years  a 
clergyman  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  filling  pastorates  nigh  to 
Allentown,  died  on  the  morning  of  June  27,  1908,  at  quarter  of 
seven  o'clock  at  his  home.  No.  818  Hamilton  Street,  AJlentown. 
He  had  been  failing  for  six  years,  and  three  months  ago  a  growth 
formed  on  his  vocal  chords,  affecting  the  glands  and  interfering 
seriously  with  his  speech.  His  whole  throat  became  affected 
and  began  closing.  On  Monday  evening  preceding  his  death,  to 
prevent  suffocation,  an  operation  was  performed.  The  relief, 
however,  was  only  temporary.  Dr.  Schindel  sank  into  uncon- 
sciousness and  lingered  thus,  painlessly,  until  the  final  summons. 

Dr.  Schindel  was  of  German  descent  on  both  the  paternal 
and  maternal  side.  His  great-great-grandfather,  John  Peter 
Schindel,  came  to  Pennsylvania  in  the  year  1751,  from  Erlenbach, 
Graftschaft  Erbach,  Odenwald,  which  now  forms  part  of  Hessia, 
and  settled  at  Lebanon.  Dr.  Schindel's  grandfather,  who  was 
also  a  clergyman,  and  who  also  bore  the  name  of  John  Peter 
Schindel,  moved  from  Lebanon  to  Sunbury,  in  181 2,  where  he 
labored  until  1853.  He  was  the  pioneer  missionary  in  North- 
umberland, Union  and  now  Snyder  Counties,  and  his  work 
reached  even  as  far  south  as  Harrisburg  and  as  far  north  as 


I09 

Williamsport.  He  was  the  first  President  of  the  East  Pennsylvania 
Synod.  The  parents  of  the  mother  of  the  deceased  also  resided 
at  Sunbury.  They  were  Henry  Masser  and  wife,  Mary  Barbara, 
nee  Baldy. 

The  deceased  was  the  son  of  Rev.  Jeremiah  Schindel,  who 
served  many  pastorates  in  Lehigh  County,  and  of  his  wife,  Eliza- 
beth Masser.  One  of  the  charges  served  by  the  latter  was  the 
Jordan  Lutheran  congregation,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  born  on  January  ii,  1841.  In  his  father's  farpily  there  were 
besides  the  deceased  five  sisters,  Mrs.  Mary  Eisenhard,  Mrs. 
Martha  Snyder  and  Mrs.  Emma  Beary,  all  of  Allentown,  and 
Mrs.  Susan  Snyder  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Weiler,  both  of  whom  are 
deceased.  There  were  also  three  other  sons  in  the  family,  viz., 
Captain  Jeremiah  P.  Schindel,  deceased;  Edward  M.  Schindel, 
of  Sunbury,  and  Martin  Luther  Schindel,  who  died  in  infancy. 

The  deceased  received  his  elementary  education  in  schools 
at  Jordan  Lutheran  Church  and  at  Guthsville.  From  1859  to 
1 860,  he  attended  the  Allentown  Seminary,  where  he  was  a  pupil 
of  Rev.  Dr.  W.  R.  Hofford,  his  later  colleague.  In  the  fall  of 
i860,  he  entered  the  Missionary  Institute,  at  Selinsgrove,  now 
Susquehanna  University.  Here  he  spent  two  years,  after  which 
he  entered  the  Junior  Class  of  Pennsylvania  College,  at  Gettys- 
burg, where  he  was  graduated  in  1864.  Dr.  Schindel  was  the 
second  honor  man  of  his  class,  but  his  Latin  salutatory  could  not 
be  delivered,  as  there  was  no  commencement  that  year  on  account 
of  the  Civil  War. 

In  the  year  1863,  the  deceased  enlisted  in  a  company  com- 
posed of  students  of  the  Seminary  and  College  at  Gettysburg, 
which  company  was  assigned  as  Company  A,  Twenty-sixth 
Regiment,  P.  V.  M.  He  was  mustered  out  in  the  same  year  and 
was  assigned  to  Major  John  S.  Schultze,  Assistant  Adjutant- 
General,  and  kept  the  book  "Special  and  General  Orders." 

In  the  fall  of  1864,  he  entered  the  Theological  Seminary,  at 
Philadelphia,  and  from  which  he  graduated  in  1867.  In  the 
spring  of  1865,  he  entered  the  service  of  the  Sanitary  Commission 
of  the  United  States  and  was  stationed  at  Baltimore,  Annapolis 
and  Washington.  Returning  to  the  seminary  in  fall  he  continued 
his  course. 

In  1867,  he  was  ordained  to  the  gospel  ministry  in  the  Evan- 
gelical Lutheran  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania,  meeting  in  Leba- 
non. Before  his  ordination  he  received  a  call  to  the  parish 
consisting  of  St.  Paul's,  Catasauqua,  and  Mickley's.  He  had 
also  received  calls  as  assistant  to  Dr.  F.  W.  Geissenhainer,  of 
St.  Paul's  Lutheran  Church,  New  York,  and  to  Selinsgrove,  but 
accepted  the  first. 

In  St.  Paul's  Church,  of  Catasauqua,  he  served  twenty-one 
years  and  it  was  during  his  pastorate  that  the  present  church 
building  was  erected  at  Catasauqua.     At  Mickley's  he  has  con- 


no 

tinued  his  pastorate  until  his  death,  having  associated  with  him 
in  the  last  nine  years  his  son,  Rev.  Jeremiah  J.  Schindel. 

On  July  2,  1868,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Ella  C.  Schmoyer, 
of  Allentown,  a  daughter  of  the  deceased  parents,  Aaron  Schmoyer 
and  wife,  Sarah  K.,  nee  Breinig.  He  is  survived  by  the  widow 
and  Mrs.  R.  J.  Butz  and  Rev.  J.  J.  Schindel,  their  only  children. 
There  are  also  two  grandchildren,  Mabel  and  Mary  Schindel. 

In  the  spring  of  1889,  having  resigned  the  congregation  at 
Catasauqua,  he  took  charge  at  Egypt  and  Laury's  in  connection 
with  Mickley's  and  Coplay,  and  served  this  field  until  the  Sunday 
after  Ascension  Day,  1908,  when  he  resigned  Egypt,  Laury's  and 
Cementon,  which  latter  was  organized  by  him  in  1900. 

Dr.  Schindel  was  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of 
Muhlenberg  College  from  1874  to  1907,  and  was  secretary  of  the 
same  from  1874  to  1885.  Muhlenberg  gave  him  his  degree  in 
1899.  He  also  served  as  Director  of  the  Theological  Seminary 
at  Mount  Airy  for  a  number  of  years.  From  1878  to  1 881,  he 
was  English  Secretary  of  the  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania. 

Dr.  Schindel  was  an  active  member  of  the  Lehigh  County 
Historical  Society  and  just  before  his  death  he  finished  reading 
the  proof  of  the  history  of  the  Egypt  Church,  which  appeared 
in  print  in  the  society's  proceedings.  He  became  a  charter  mem- 
ber, January  13,  1906. 

During  his  ministry  of  41  years,  Dr.  Schindel  received  by  the 
rite  of  confirmation  2,752,  officiated  at  2,258  funerals,  performed 
1,452  marriages,  baptized  4,847  children  and  25  adults. 

His  only  son.  Rev.  J.  J.  Schindel,  who  was  for  the  last  nine 
years  his  associate  pastor,  is  now  serving  St.  John's,  Mickley's, 
and  St.  John's,  Coplay.  Rev.  E.  O.  Leopold  accepted  a  call  to 
the  Egypt  Church,  St.  John's,  Laury's,  and  St.  Paul's,  Cementon. 

Dr.  Schindel 's  last  sermon  was  preached  at  Laury's,  May  10, 
1908,  on  St.  John  16:  16:  "Yet  a  little  while,  and  ye  shall  not 
see  me:  and  again,  a  little  while,  and  ye  shall  see  me,  because  I 
go  to  the  father."     How  appropriate! 

His  last  funeral  sermon  was  preached  at  the  funeral  of 
Bernhard  Keiser,  at  Fullerton,  May  4,  1908,  when  he  preached  on 
I  Cor.  13:  13,  "And  now  abideth  faith,  hope  and  charity,  these 
three,  but  the  greatest  of  these  is  charity." 

The  funeral  was  held  in  St.  John's  Lutheran  Church,  Allen- 
town,  Thursday,  July  2,  at  2  o'clock,  in  charge  of  Revs.  Drs.  Fry, 
Steimle,  Stump,  Horn,  and  Spieker. 

Rev.  Dr.  Edward  T.  Horn  preached  in  English,  on  II  Cor.  4:5 : 
"For  we  preach  not  ourselves,  but  Christ  Jesus  the  Lord;  and 
ourselves  your  servants  for  Jesus'  sake." 

Rev.  Dr.  G.  F.  Spieker  preached  in  German,  on  Ephesians 
2:8:  "For  by  grace  are  ye  saved  through  faith;  and  that  not  of 
yourselves ;  it  is  the  gift  of  God ;  not  of  works  lest  any  man  should 
boast." 


David  McKenna. 

On  Christmas  evening,  December  25,  1908;  David  McKenna, 
of  Slatington,  Vice-President  of  the  Lehigh  County  Historical 
Society,  passed  away  peacefully  at  his  home,  following  a  brief 
illness. 

Mr.  McKenna  was  a  typical  representative  of  his  Scotch 
nationality.  He  was  born  near  Newton  Stewart,  Wigtonshire, 
Scotland,  June  10,  1838,  and  was  a  son  of  David  and  Agnes 
McKenna.  His  father  died  in  Scotland  in  1841,  when  he  was 
three  and  one-half  years  old.  The  widow  and  her  son  came  to 
America  in  1843,  and  settled  in  Wyandotte  County,  Ohio,  amongst 
friends  who  had  emigrated  from  Scotland  and  located  there  some 
few  years  before  and  there  they  made  their  home  for  thirteen 
years.  Mr.  McKenna  was  sent  to  the  schools  of  his  native  parish 
at  the  time  that  the  Bible  was  the  only  textbook.  After  settling 
in  this  country,  he  entered  the  public  schools  of  Ohio  and  also 
studied  at  different  times  under  private  teachers.  He  was  reared 
in  the  famous  "Northwestern  Territory,"  as  that  part  of  Ohio 
was  then  called,  and  early  in  life  developed  traits  of  industry  and 
enterprise. 

Mr.  McKenna  and  his  mother  came  to  Pennsylvania  in  1856, 
and  located  at  Slatington,  when  there  were  only  a  few  houses  in 
the  village.  His  mother  resided  with  him  until  her  death  in  1879, 
aged  ninety-four  years.  He  secured  employment  with  the  Lehigh 
Slate  Company,  the  first  chartered  organization  of  its  kind  in 
Pennsylvania,  and  of  which  Robert  McDowell  was  Superintendent 
and  Treasurer.  For  a  year  he  was  employed  in  various  capacities 
and  early  in  1857  he  was  appointed  station  agent  for  the  Lehigh 
Valley  Railroad  Company.  He  was  also  telegraph  operator, 
mail  carrier  and  express  agent.  He  devoted  eight  years  to  the 
service  of  the  railroad.  He  quit  the  employment  to  become 
Assistant  Superintendent  of  the  Lehigh  Slate  Company  and 
filled  that  position  until  the  death  of  his  father-in-law,  Robert 
McDowell,  in  1878,  when  he  was  elected  Superintendent  and 
served  until  1880.  At  this  time  he  engaged  in  business  for  him- 
self and  was  instrumental  in  the  development  of  a  number  of 
slate  quarries,  the  more  prominent  ones  among  them  being  the 
McDowell,  later  the  Girard,  the  Brooklyn  and  the  Meadow 
Brook.  In  company  with  other  enterprising  business  men  he 
purchased  the  farm  known  as  the  Kern  farm  slate  property,  on 
which  six  large  quarries  have  been  opened  and  are  now  among 
the  most  profitable  quarries  in  the  Lehigh  slate  region. 

Mr.  McKenna  warmly  espoused  the  cause  of  anti-slavery,  and 
as  a  young  man  he  took  an  active  interest  in  the  campaign  of 
Solomon  P.  Chase  for  the  Governorship  of  Ohio  in  1855.  After 
moving  to  Pennsylvania,  he  became  a  w^arm  enthusiast  of  Repub- 
lican principles,  which  made  its  first  Presidential  nomination  in 


112 


that  year.  Up  to  his  death  he  was  an  energetic  and  loyal  adherent 
of  that  party.  For  many  years  he  was  a  member  of  the  County 
Executive  Committee  and  served  a  number  of  times  as  chairman 
of  county  conventions,  was  a  delegate  to  the  State  convention  at 
Lancaster,  which  nominated  General  John  F.  Hartranft  for 
Governor,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the  Harrisburg  convention, 
which  nominated  Henry  M.  Hoyt.  He  was  appointed  notary 
public  by  Governor  Hartranft  and  was  nominated  for  State 
Assembly  and  afterwards  for  State  Senator,  but  failed  of  election 
both  times.  Mr.  McKenna  served  on  the  School  Board  for  25 
years  and  as  its  President  for  fifteen  years.  He  was  nominated 
for  chief  burgess  one  year,  but  declined  to  accept.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  the  Slatington  Board  of  Trade.  He  was  an  active 
and  prominent  Mason  and  took  a  lively  interest  in  the  fraternity, 
belonging  to  Slatington  Lodge,  No.  440,  F.  and  A.  M.,  having 
served  as  Worshipful  Master  for  two  terms;  a  member  of  Allen 
Council,  No.  23,  R.  and  S.  M.,  Allen  Commandery,  No.  20,  Knights 
Templar,  of  Allentown,  and  Rajah  Temple,  A.  A.  O.  N.  M.  S.,  of 
Reading.  He  was  also  a  member  of  the  Scotch-Irish  Society  of 
America  and  was  deeply  interested  in  its  history.  In  the  Pres- 
byterian Church,  of  Slatington,  he  served  as  elder  and  as  Super- 
intendent of  the  Sunday  School  for  over  twenty-five  years,  repre- 
sented the  Presbytery  of  Lehigh  in  the  general  assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  at  Omaha  in  1887,  and  was  a  delegate  to  the 
Synod  of  Pennsylvania,  held  at  Wheeling  in  1890.  He  joined 
the  Lehigh  County  Historical  Society,  January  13,  1906. 

In  1865,  Mr.  McKenna  was  united  in  marriage  to  Rebecca 
Augusta  McDowell,  a  daughter  of  Robert  and  Sarah  E.  McDowell. 
The  children  born  to  them  were  Sarah  A.,  Helen  A.,  Phoebe  B., 
and  Stella  A.  The  eldest  daughter  became  the  wife  of  Franklin 
Prince,  of  Philadelphia,  in  1890.  Mr.  Prince  died  in  1893  and 
his  widow  married  Rev.  J.  W.  Brockway,  of  Erie,  in  1901.  Helen 
A.,  died  in  1870,  and  Phoebe  B.,  died  in  1890.  The  youngest 
daughter  is  the  wife  of  James  Craig  and  resides  at  Slatington. 
Two  grandchildren  also  survive,  Marguerite  McKenna  Prince  and 
David  McKenna  Brockway. 

Hon.  Harry  G.  StiIvES. 

Mayor  Harry  G.  Stiles  died  in  office  on  Sunday  morning, 
November  8,  1908,  having  sustained  a  stroke  of  apoplexy  on  the 
previous  afternoon.  He  was  the  third  mayor  of  the  city  of  Allen- 
town  to  die  during  his  term  of  office,  the  others  having  been 
Dr.  T.  C.  Yeager,  on  January  14,  1874,  and  Dr.  Alfred  J.  Yost, 
on  April  16,  1907.  Mr.  Stiles  was  the  second  son  of  Hon.  John 
David  and  Mary  A.  (Gibbons)  Stiles  and  was  born  in  this  city, 
December  16,  1856.  He  was  graduated  from  the  Allentown 
High  School  on  June  30,  1874,  studied  at  Muhlenberg  College  for 


"3 

two  years,  and  was  graduated  from  the  law  school  of  Harvard 
University  in  1873.  Studying  law  with  his  father,  he  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Bar  of  Lehigh  County  on  April  14,  1887,  and  was 
later  associated  with  his  father  in  the  firm  of  John  D.  Stiles  & 
Son.  Mr.  Stiles  was  nominated  as  a  Presidential  Elector  in  1884. 
In  1889,  he  was  elected  District  Attorney,  and  in  1894,  was 
elected  to  the  State  Senate,  being  re-elected  in  1898.  He  was 
chosen  Mayor  of  Allentown  in  February,  1908.  Mr.  Stiles  was  a 
member  of  St  John's  Reformed  Church;  Greenleaf  Lodge,  No. 
561,  F.  and  A.  M.;  Lecha  Wonk  Tribe,  No.  201,  I.  O.  R.  M.; 
Allentown  Castle,  No.  55,  K.  G.  E.,  Greenleaf  Lodge,  No.  257, 
K.  of  P.;  Clinton  Chamber,  No.  44,  K.  of  F.,  of  Minesite;  Rescue 
Hook  and  Ladder  Co.,  No.  8,  and  of  the  Lehigh  County  Bar 
Association.  He  was  survived  by  his  wife,  three  brothers  and 
one  sister.  Mr.  Stiles  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Historical 
Society,  May  11,  1907. 

CharIvKS  D.  Deshi^ER. 

Charles  Dunham  Deshler  died  at  his  late  home,  106  College 
Avenue,  New  Brunswick,  N.  J.,  Monday  morning.  May  10,  1909, 
at  9  o'clock.  He  had  been  failing  very  rapidly  since  the  beginning 
of  March.  As  he  was  born  at  Easton,  Pa.,  on  March  i,  1819, 
he  was  a  little  over  ninety  years  old,  and  his  death  was  due  simply 
to  a  wearing  out  of  the  machine,  a  result  of  old  age. 

When  Mr.  Deshler  first  came  to  New  Brunswick  he  went 
into  the  drug  business  as  an  apprentice  with  Mr.  MacDonald, 
at  Peace  and  Church  Streets,  that  city.  He  applied  himself  to 
the  business  and  eventually  became  the  sole  proprietor.  But 
the  drug  business  did  not  suit  him,  and  he  retired  from  it  in  1859. 

He  then  began  to  take  more  seriously  to  those  literary  labors 
which  eventually  occupied  a  great  part  of  his  time.  Going  to 
Jersey  City,  he  did  some  editorial  work  for  the  Jersey  City  Stan- 
dard. He  then  went  to  Newark  and  worked  on  the  Newark 
Advertiser.  He  also  spent  a  short  time  in  the  oil  regions  of  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Mr.  Deshler  returned  to  New  Brunswick  in  1868,  and  had 
lived  there  ever  since  that  time.  He  engaged  in  literary  work, 
of  a  critical  nature  principally,  for  the  Harpers,  having  charge 
of  the  Editor's  Round  Table  and  reading  manuscript  for  the 
home.  He  wrote  and  compiled  "Chaucer,  With  Selections,"  and 
"Afternoons  With  the  Poets."  He  was  at  one  time  a  lay  judge 
of  the  Middlesex  County  Court  and  was  the  first  county  super- 
intendent of  the  Middlesex  schools.  He  was  instrumental  in 
founding  the  Middlesex  Gas  Company,  the  Middlesex  Savings 
Bank  and  other  institutions,  and  did  a  large  share  of  the  work  of 
organizing  the  Middlesex  County  school  system. 

Shortly  before  his  last  term  of  office  expired  Grover  Cleveland 


114 

appointed  Mr.  Deshler  postmaster  of  New  Brunswick,  and  he 
held  that  office  till  the  conclusion  of  his  four-year  term. 

Mr.  Deshler  was  always  literary  in  his  tastes,  and  his  library 
is  one  of  the  finest  collections  of  books  to  be  found  anywhere 
in  that  neighborhood. 

They  are  largely  historical  in  character,  and  are  of  great 
interest,  particularly  to  persons  living  in  that  section. 

Mr.  Deshler  had  not  lived  a  very  active  life  for  many  years, 
but  he  had  always  taken  a  great  interest  in  everything  that 
concerned  the  community.  His  death  was  deeply  regretted  by 
all,  as  he  was  always  public  spirited  and  patriotic,  and  had  the 
highest  of  ideals  in  both  public  and  private  life. 

Mr.  Deshler  leaves  seven  children,  three  daughters  and  four 
sons — Miss  Kate,  Miss  Mary,  Miss  Edith,  Edward  B.,  James, 
Charles  and  Frederick.  He  also  left  many  grandchildren  and 
great-grandchildren.  His  wife,  who  was  Miss  Mary  Holcombe, 
of  New  Brunswick,  died  in  1893. 

Mr.  Deshler  was  elected  a  member  of  the  Lehigh  County 
Historical  Society,  May  9,   1908. 


115 


MEMBERS  ELECTED  SINCE  AUGUST  1,  1908. 

William  J.  Heller Kaston 

C.  L.  Freeman Allentown 

Hon.  John  O.  Sheatz Harrisburg 

Mrs.  Margaret  S.  Hunsicker Norristown 

Alfred  ly.  Reichenbach Allentown 

Rev.  Frank  P.  Laros . Alburtis 

Mrs.  Lyman  H.  Howe Wilkes-Barre 

Rev.  George  M.  Smith New  Tripoli 

Rev.  John  Baer  Stoudt Emaus 

R.  F.  Stine Allentown 

F.  A.  R.  Baldwin Allentown 

Howard  Weiss Siegfried 

Henry  J.  Detwiller Allentown 

Dr.  H.  H.  Herbst Allentown 

Charles  D.  Weirbach Allentown 

Thomas  W.  Saeger Allentown 

Mrs.  Thomas  W.  Saeger. Allentown 

Mrs.  Charles  M.  Saeger Allentown 

Mrs.  Horace  Luckenbach Bethlehem 

Prof.  Edwin  M.  Fogel,  Ph.  D Philadelphia 

Miss  Irene  B.  Martin Allentown 

Rev.  Augustus  Steimle Allentown 

David  J.  Nagle Allentown 

Rev.  Myron  O.  Rath Allentown 

Tilghman  Neumeyer Emaus, 

Mrs.  Ralph  R.  Metzger Allentown 

Mrs.  Ella  C.  Stine Allentown, 

Joseph  P.  Shimer Allentown 

Elmer  J.  Faust Allentown 

Frank  D.  Biery Allentown 

Ambrose  A.  Kunkle Allentown 

Charles  W.  Eisenhard Allentown 

Mrs.  Emma  A.  Ettinger Allentown 

Miss  A.  Violet  Kline Allentown 

Rev.  J.  S.  Renninger Allentown 

Rev.  George  M.  Scheidy Allentown 

Nils  A.  Oleson Allentown, 


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CONTENTS. 

PAGES. 

Minutes  of  Meetings,  1908-1909 3—18 

Lynford  Lardner  and  Grouse  Hall,  by  Charles  R.  Roberts...  .  19 — 24 

History  of  Mickley's  Church,  by  Rev.  Thomas  H.  Krick 26 — 36 

Founders  and  Organizers  of  Mickley's  Church,  by  Miss  Minnie 

F.  Mickley 38—42 

Notable  Events  in  the  Social  Life  of  Allentown  in  the  18th 

Century,  by  Charles  R.  Roberts 43—46 

The  Emaus  Moravian  Congregation,  by  Rev.  Allen  E.  Abel...  47 — 53 
Pennsylvania   Germans  in    Public   Life   During   the   Colonial 

Period,  by  Charles  R.  Roberts 54—59 

Comparative  Calculations  and  Remarks  on  the  Improvement 

of  the  River  Lehigh,  by  Ralph  R.  Metzger 60 — 66 

History  of  Jerusalem  Church,  Salisbury,  by  Rev.  C.  J.  Cooper, 

D.  D 69—99 

History  of  Solomon's  Reformed  Church,  Macungie,  by  James 

J.  Hauser 100—105 

The  First  Steaj^  Whistle  in  the  Lehigh  Valley 106—107 

In  Memoriam. ..'.'. 108 — 114 

Members  elected  since  August  1,  1908 115 


